William G. Wilson

October 24, 1934 - January 9, 2015

Mr. William G. Wilson, 80, of Clarksville, Missouri, died January 9, 2015 at the Pike County Memorial Hospital in Louisiana, Missouri following a short illness. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 14th at the Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Clarksville, Missouri. Father Lou Dorn will officiate. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery near Clarksville, Missouri. Members of American Legion Post 370 will conduct Graveside Military Honors. Visitation will be held from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 13th at the Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana, Missouri. He was born on October 24, 1934 in Madison, Illinois to William G. Wilson and Katheryn Allen Wilson. William was raised in Granite City, Illinois until joining the Army in 1953 where he was stationed in Germany. He returned home and married Nora L. Ziegler on July 26, 1959 at the St. Joseph Rectory in Louisiana, Missouri. In 1962 he re-enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Alaska and Virginia until he was sent to Vietnam. He returned to a posting in Fort Carson, Colorado and was again transferred to Germany. He retired from the military, after returning to Colorado in 1979 with the rank of Sgt. 1st Class. William worked for the Colorado Dept. of Corrections for 13 years before his retirement and returned to Clarksville, Missouri in 1996. He was a member of the American Legion until his death. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nora L. Ziegler Wilson of Clarksville, Missouri, a daughter, Mary Wilson Himes of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Two sons, Paul Wilson (Cynthia) of Batesburg, South Carolina and James Wilson (Amy) of Escanaba, Michigan, brothers, James Wilson ( Anita) of Bristol, Tennessee and Clayton Wilson (Penny) of Vandalia, Illinois sister, Joe Ann (Carl) Alford of Greenville, Illinois, 7 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, 3 sisters in-law, Marilyn Ziegler of St. Genevieve, Missouri, Anna M. Collard of Rockport, Illinois, and Karen Heuer of Titusville, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, William G. Wilson and Katheryn (Allen) Wilson and a son-in-law, Mark Himes and numerous aunts and uncles. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking in his garage workshop, watching movies, especially science fiction and westerns, while sitting in his recliner with his little dog, Tess. Family lore states that he would always stop and help the turtles across the road between Clarksville and Louisiana. He especially loved his grandchildren and will be missed for his sense of humor and quiet generosity. Pallbearers are; Mike Wilson, William Wilson, Mike Ziegler and Edward Ziegler. Memorial donations may be given to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in care of Collier Funeral Homes, Inc., 117 Barnard Drive, Louisiana, Missouri 63353.