David Lee Wilson, 75, of Galesburg, Illinois died peacefully at 2:35 a.m. Monday, June 5, 2023 at OSF Richard L. Owens, Hospice Home, Peoria, Illinois
David was born December 4, 1947, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Charles T. and Elizabeth (Pettay) Wilson. After graduating high school, David attended Northern Illinois University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology and his MS in Community Mental Health. He was a military veteran who served in the United States Air Force as a Medical Corpsman. David married Nancy Ann Wallace on April 15, 1973 at Coldbrook Christian Church, Cameron, Illinois.
David is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy of Galesburg; two children, Scott (Carrie) Wilson of Amissville, Virginia and Diane (Micah) Miller of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; and his twelve beloved grandchildren, Thomas, Tristan, Thaddeus, Sebastian, Edmund, Joseph, Mary Margaret, Mason, Avery, Blake, Annaliese, and Paige. He is also survived by two brothers, Roger (Phyllis) Wilson of Onalaska, Wisconsin and Howard (Karen) Wilson of Beaver Creek, Oregon; and three sisters, Winifred (Bill) Prosise of Ramsey, New Jersey, Constance (Neil) Burns of Chesterfield, Missouri, and Adrienne (Benn) Samuel of Deerfield, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents.
After college, David enjoyed working as a juvenile probation officer in Knox County. He spent most of his working career as an orthopedic implant representative. After retiring, he worked as a substitute teacher in area schools. David was an accomplished instrument rated private pilot. He loved building three high performance experimental aircraft in his garage. He loved to fly and was always willing to take people for a ride in his airplane. David always had a project he was working on. He had a passion to improve how things worked. He enjoyed taking canoe trips on Iowa rivers with Nancy.
David had a strong Christian faith and wished to glorify God in all that he did. He oriented his life around his family and was devoted to his wife, a proud father of his two children, and a blessed grandfather to his twelve grandchildren. David will be remembered for his cordial, polite, and generous spirit and was always encouraging those around him.
Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at the funeral home with David’s brother-in-law, Benn Samuel officiating. Burial will follow at Mosher Cemetery, rural Cameron, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made to EAA Galesburg Chapter 1643 Young Eagles Program as well as the Family House in Peoria, a place for families to stay when a loved one is hospitalized. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
