With heavy hearts the family announces the unexpected passing of Willard Wilson on July 27, 2011 at the Emo Health Centre.
He was born Feb. 22, 1928 in Carpenter Twp, to the late Ralph and Laura (Hodge) Wilson.
He attended the Carpenter and Dobie Schools to Grade 5, and then worked on the farm with his dad.
As a young teenager he began working for C.O. Carlson on their farms, sawmill and trucking which took him to Manitoba.
He was a great man of many talents and a “jack of all trades.”
He worked for Mando Paper Co, Steep Rock Mines, Emo Forest Products, Campbell’s Camp, Tompkins Hardware and Norlund Oil to name a few, before becoming self-employed and found his love for carpentry and building log homes.
There never was a project too big or too small that Willard wouldn’t tackle and he always loved a challenge.
He loved fishing and hunting with his many friends or anything to get him outdoors or near a lake, as well as planting and harvesting his vegetable garden each year.
On Oct. 25, 1951, he married the love of his life, Joyous (Brigden). Together, they raised 11 children.
His memory will be deeply cherished by his children, Theresa (Ron) Redford, Ralph (Brenda) Wilson, Len (Cheryl) Wilson, Reg Wilson, Marlene (Pete) McQuaker, Joyous (Don) Bragg, Melvin (Bonnie) Wilson, Julie (Dan) Mattson, and Rob Wilson; daughters-in-law Pam Wilson and Wendy McLean, 29 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are his brothers, James, Alex (Linda), and Dan (Ellen); sisters, Lydia Wilson, and Elizabeth (Nick) Kluk; brother-in-law, Gerald Bullied; sisters-in-law, Rita Desgroseilliers and Pauline Brigden; and his very special aunt, Aggie Hodge.
Willard was predeceased by his wife, Joyous, on March 24, 2007; sons, Gary Wilson (2003), and Doug Wilson (1984); parents, Ralph and Laura Hodge; sister, Iris Reid, brothers-in-law, Percy Reid, Ken Lockman, Bill Munn, Jean Desgroseillies, Harry, Charles, and Jerry Brigden; sister-in-laws, Stella Brigden, Dorothy Munn, Adeline Khober, Shirley Brigden, Alice Richart, Agnes Lockman, Lorraine Bullied and Eliza Wilson.
Funeral service was held at the Northridge Funeral Home, Emo, Ont, on Saturday July 30, 2011 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Eileen Bragg officiating. Interment will take place in Emo Cemetery at a later date.
Pallbearers were Ronnie Redford, Matt Redford, Robert Redford, Cody Wilson, Joel Wilson, Jordan Wilson, Trisha McQuaker, and Stephanie Mattson.
Honourary pallbearers were Doug McLeod, Stu Bowman, Dale Strachan, Dan Bragg, Al Kellar, Bill Mosbeck, Dwight Becker, and all of Dad’s friends.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Emo Riverside Health Care Facility, c/o Northridge Funeral Home, Box 89, Emo, Ontario, P0W 1E0
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com