John Robert Wilson, 77, long-time resident of Fairview Heights, Ill. passed away Feb 12, 2025 in Granite City, Ill.
He was born to the late Thomas and Mildred (Schneider) Wilson in East St. Louis, Ill., on June 12, 1947.
John graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1966 and joined the U.S Air Force, where he was trained as an electrician. (He had asked for any other job but that!) After his military service, John went to work for Granite City Steel. He was the youngest foreman they had ever hired and when asked what his job was there, he said “it was to make coffee.” He retired from there in 2001 as a plant manager. In his younger years, John would fish and hunt with his father and older brother. But he quickly took on the single-father role, raising his daughter, son and granddaughter.
John was an amazing father, Papa John, brother, uncle and friend. He would do anything for anybody when he could. John was a strong, resilient and gentle man who loved his family immensely.
He is survived by his son Robert Wilson of Fairview Heights, Ill., granddaughters Katie (David Gilley) Wilson, of Maryville, Ill., Reece Brem of Fairview Heights, Ill., and Ella Mai Wilson of Fairview Heights, Ill.; sisters; Shirley Wilson of Belleville, Ill., and Debi Wilson of Belleville Ill., many nieces, nephews, cousins, great friend, Marilyn Borkowski, and his special friend at the nursing home, Shirley.
Besides his parents, John is preceded in death by his daughter Angie Brem, honorary daughter- in-law, Jill Dryden, sisters Carol Justmann, Elizabeth Whitfield and Patricia Halcomb; and brother Thomas Wilson.
The family would like to thank Vitas Hospice for their care during this difficult time. Share a memory at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting contributions to a benefit fund for Ella Mai Wilson, payable to Robert Wilson.
The family will receive friends from 11:30 – 1:30, Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O’Fallon, IL. Procession will depart the funeral home at 1:30 for a Graveside Service with military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.
Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O’Fallon, is serving the family.
