William R. Wilson

William Robert Wilson

William Robert “Bob” Wilson, 90, of Appleton passed away Saturday May 29, 2010 at Norwood Crossing Eldercare in Chicago, IL.

Bob was born March 18, 1920 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was the fourth of five children born to Jennie Munroe Wilson and Maurice Wilson. He graduated from Kenosha High School in 1938, spent one year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and graduated from Lawrence University in 1946. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.

Bob's career started at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Chicago. He moved back to his college town in 1948 to work for the Appleton Chamber of Commerce for four years before joining Western Condensing Company as personnel manager. While at Western (later merged with Foremost Dairy), he met and married Joan Kay Silliman of Appleton in 1954. Bob joined First National Bank of Appleton in 1962, where he worked for 20 years, moving from personnel manager to vice president of the mortgage loan department. He retired in 1982 and became an avid volunteer at Appleton Medical Center, Lincoln Elementary School, the Salvation Army, and the Appleton Senior Center.

Bob is survived by one sister, Jane Hannan (Kenosha) and his three devoted daughters, Barbara Wilson (John Lammers) of Champaign, IL, Susan Wilson of Park Ridge, IL, and Judith Wethall (Joel) of Park Ridge, IL. He was loved by his six grandchildren, Isabel and Grace Lammers, Cole and Cooper Beckwith, and Madison and Finn Wethall, and his step granddaughter, Emily Lammers Dowdell.

Bob was preceded in death by his former wife, Joan; his brother, Henry Wilson (Bethesda, MD); and his sisters Helen Wilson (Chicago) and Dorothy Wood (Denver). He also follows his longtime love and companion, Jean Pierri of Appleton, who passed away in October 2009. Together, they played cards, shared meals, and treasured her three children (Julie Blake, Jeannie, Brice, and Frank Pierri) and seven grandchildren (Araceli and Dominic Blake; Malcolm and Riley Brice; Logan, Carlye, and Rachael Pierri).

Bob's life was one of service to others; he was a longtime member of the Appleton Kiwanis Club, treasurer for A Better Chance (ABC) Program, and Big Brother and mentor to many youth, including Patrick Risley.

One of Bob's legacies for his family was his deep appreciation of the North Woods of Wisconsin. He loved spending time at Camp Manitowish and for more than 40 years brought his family together for a summer week at Black's Cliff Resort near Minocqua.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in memory of William Robert Wilson to the Appleton A Better Chance Program, PO Box 424, Appleton, WI 54912. A celebration of Bob's life is planned for Saturday, June 5, 2010, 4-6 pm at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St., Appleton, WI.