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Obituary for Donald Edward Wilson
Donald Edward Wilson, a resident of Hartland, MI, died peacefully in the early morning hours of September 24th, 2019. He was 87 years old.
Born November 12, 1931, Don grew up in Detroit with his parents, Frank and Gertrude, and his two younger sisters, Linda and Susan. Since his mother’s family lived in Linwood, Ontario, Don often spent summers there, and at a cottage on Lake Erie. From the age of eight, Don had a paper route or worked various odd jobs, always contributing his earnings to his parents. Later, as a father, he would instill these life lessons to his daughters, emphasizing the importance of getting a good education, working hard, and being financially independent.
Because he was deaf in one ear, he could not enlist in the armed services. He worked while attending the University of Detroit, finishing with a Master’s degree in Finance and Economics. Don’s profession was an Economics Forecaster and Management Consultant.
“His job was always difficult to describe,” said his youngest daughter, Julianne. “While other kids could say there’s dad worked for GM or was a lawyer, no one really understood what he did.”
In the vernacular, Don was a numbers cruncher, though that is too simple an expression. He read copious reports, including four newspapers daily, researching and analyzing economic data for the automotive industry, then later for construction engineers in retail development. Early in his career he worked for several companies, then branched out on his own producing Local Business Trends, a well respected quarterly newsletter/bulletin covering this type of data.
His sister, Linda, gets the credit for introducing him to fellow Home Economics major, Judith Jagrowski. They dated several months and then “he dropped me like a hot potato,” Judy remembers. A few years later, after hearing she was widowed, Don called her father for her phone number. That set the wheels in motion, and they married in June of 1964.
In 1969 the couple moved from Farmington, MI to Hartland, where they built their home, raised their three daughters and joined St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Don was very active at St. John’s “serving behind the scenes” on the boards of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Diocesan Finance Committee. He also served on the Livingston County Vicariate Council and the Livingston County Catholics Charities Board. Additionally, he was a founding member of LOVE, Inc. Many parishioners of St. John’s will recall that Don often spoke for the Annual Appeal and the Loaves and Fishes Appeal.
The words “warm and fuzzy” would not be the first words to describe Don. Behind his gruff and seemingly grumpy demeanor, however, was a good man with a warm and caring heart who cared deeply for his wife and family.
Don is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Judith; his daughters, Samantha (Thomas) Diss, Kathryn Graye and Julianne (Anthony) Mandriota; granddaughters, Savannah Graye and Karolen and Kristina Diss; sisters, Linda Finnie and Susan Cameron as well as many nieces, nephews dear friends and extended family members.
Visitation will be held at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 600 E. Main St., Brighton, on Friday, September 27, 2019, from 6:00-8:00PM. Vigil Service, 7:00PM
Funeral Mass will be held at St. John Catholic Church, 2099 N. Hacker Road, Howell, MI 48855 on Saturday, September 28, 2019, 12:30PM with gathering to begin at 11:30AM. The Rev. Fr. Francis M. George to officiate. Burial to follow at St. John Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged in Donald’s name to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
For further information please phone Lynch And Sons at 248-684-6645 or visit LynchandSonsBrighton.com
