Darwin Wilson

Darwin C. Wilson, 85, of Merriman, entered into the presence of the Lord on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, at 6:20 p.m. He passed away at home and in the presence of his wife and children. He was born on Oct. 17, 1916, in the town of Wausaukee, Wis., son of the late Henry and Eva (Cunningham) Wilson. His childhood years were spent in Taylor Rapids, Armstrong Creek and Wausaukee as his family struggled through the Great Depression. At 12 years-old and with little food for the family to eat, he took his rifle, the clothes on his back, and went to live with his uncle, James Asa Knapp, in the woods. There in a wooden shack, Dad learned to survive on whatever he could shoot and became an excellent marksman. For five years he lived on deer, bear, sourdough, and spring water. He developed a lasting love of everything outdoors, and that love continued all his life, still actively hunting, trapping and fishing until his death. In recent years he was featured on "Discovering" with Buck LeVasseur. At age 17, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and wintered at Isle Royal when they opened the island up to public access. He met Lillie Hansen of Kingsford and knew on their first date that she was the girl he wanted to marry. They began their life together in 1940. He worked on glider production at the Ford Plant in Kingsford and in Detroit as a security guard at the Chrysler Tank Plant. He was called to serve in the U.S. Army and was selected to train as an army medic while at Fort Lewis, Wash.. He worked for 33 years at Dickinson County Hospital as a surgical technician and retired to spend his remaining years ministering at Lake Ellen Bible Camp where he was known as Grandpa Wilson. Dad also worked with youth in our community as an instructor of the National Rifle Association, and with the junior ski-jumping programs. He served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and as a leader in the Boy's Christian Service Brigade at Immanuel Baptist Church in Kingsford. Dad used his last days to share his faith with others and his heart's desire would be that they would meet again and worship together before the Lord. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Neoma (Parson) and Leta Wilson; and a brother, Walter Wilson. He is survived by his wife, Lillie; five children, Sharon (Richard) Kreider of Iron Mountain, Wayne (Susan) Wilson of Spread Eagle, Wis., Linda (Sheldon) Freeman of Breitung Township, Laurie (Daniel) Miller of Iron Mountain, and Rodd (Doreen) Wilson of Norway; nine grandchildren, Brian (Lisa) Kreider, Jonathan (Lourdes) Kreider, Matthew (Cindy) Kreider, Carissa (Kevin) Schumutzler, Melissa (Chris) Rebman, Christopher (Brenda) Freeman, Jason (Elesha) Freeman, Erik Wilson, and Jeremy Wilson; 14 great-grandchildren; a sister, Elizabeth Vangyseghem; and many nieces, nephews, and special friends. Visitation was held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today at Immanuel Baptist Church in Kingsford. The Rev, Ron Wolfe will officiate. Burial will be in the Quinnesec Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the Wilson family online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will established in his memory at the Lake Ellen Bible Camp. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Darwin Wilson

September 25, 1918 - September 25, 2003