In Memory
Joel F. Wilson
Joel F. Wilson , 85, of 62147 Lagoon Street, Diamond Lake, Cassopolis, Mich., died in a sudden and tragic automobile accident at 6:08 p.m. on March 10 in the Memorial Hospital Trauma Center, South Bend, Ind.
Joel began life on May 8, 1919 in the Passavent Hospital in Chicago, Ill. His parents were students at Moody Bible Institute. After their graduation, Joel lived with his mother, Leona, in Plymouth, Ind., while his father, Roscoe, directed music and sang at revivals that were held in the western states and led by Rev. Dr. Knupp. Later, his father became the pastor of the United Brethren Church in Tyner, Ind., for three years and in 1925 Roscoe took charge of the Columbia City, Ind., church. In 1928 they moved to Hammond, Ind., for three years and in 1931 moved to South Bend for the rest of Joel 's childhood. Joel graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1937 and entered Indiana Central College (now University of Indianapolis). After two years he transferred to Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill., to complete his education.
He was called into the Marine Corps after World War II began and served as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island, S.C., until being transferred to Officer Training School at Quantiaco, Va. After his commissioning, he was assigned to Amphibian Tanks and the Pacific Rim battle zone. His battalion was involved in at least three landings, two of which were Iowa Jima and Okinawa. In February 1945, Joel was evacuated to the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., due to a serious combat injury. He received a medical honorable discharge as a Second Lieutenant in May 1946.
Joel became involved with the Marine Corps League and was Indiana State Commandant in the 1950s, establishing several new Leagues in the State. He was on the organizing committee for the Twyckenham Hills Pool Club (still active) when it was built around 1957 and served as President several times. Joel helped organize the Merritimer's Dance Club that provided many hours of entertainment and frolic. Joel was always a smooth and enthusiastic dancer and the dance club continues today. He always wanted to entertain and make people feel welcomed and important. He started his famous annual Corn Roast in the 1980s and was looking forward to the one this coming summer. Joel played golf every week of the season with friends of a local golf club and actually shot his age last summer. His prolific joke telling and upbeat personality will greatly be missed by all.
When the Studebaker Corporation collapsed, Joel was a service manager for the Export Department. He gained new employment as a life insurance salesman, which led him to an opportunity to sell life insurance to the American Forces in Augsburg, Germany. He moved the family there and was very successful and well-liked and became the District Manager from 1963-1967. While there, he continued his organization skills and became 32nd Degree Master Mason at the Masonic Lodge #831 and also helped organize a Kiwanis Club in Augsburg. On returning to the US in 1967, he changed his career to vending operations in the area until he retired in 1995. Joel founded the Wilson Lagoon Association at Diamond Lake where he resided and had served as President and other official positions in the association. In 1971 he started a family tradition with the Roscoe Open Golf Tournament to honor his father and it is held every year in June. This year will be the 35th consecutive tournament. Joel always guaranteed each player a prize at the end of the round no matter what the score. He was a member of the Elks Club #388 in Dowagiac, Mich., where he often dined. Joel was also a member of the Retired Officers Association and the Military Officers Association of America.
Preceded in death were his father, the Rev. Dr. Roscoe F. Wilson and his mother, Leona. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Rosemary Wilson and three children; Jerome Keith of Louisville, Ky., Robin Michele Wilson -McKenzie (Ed) of Eau Claire, Mich., and Kerry Joel (Gloria) of Elkhart, Ind., a brother, Keith Wilson and sister Bonnebelle Williamson. He had 6 grandchildren; Tesse K. Rahal (Ryan) of Tulsa, Okla., Roscoe Landon Wilson of Hamilton, Ohio, Kira Elysse Geier of Detroit, Mich., and Timothy Richard Geier of Chicago, Ill., Ashley Noelle Wilson of Louisville, and Christopher Jerome Wilson of Louisville. There are two great grandchildren, Christian Harrison Rahal and Riley Cole Rahal of Tulsa.
Services will be at the Grace United Methodist Church, 3012 S. Twyckenham, South Bend at 3 p.m. with Pastor Claudette Haney of Cassopolis United Methodist Church, Cassopolis, Mich., officiating. Burial will be at the Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend, with military honors. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, in Welsheimer North Funeral Home, 17033 Cleveland road, South Bend, IN. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Published in the South Bend Tribune; March 14, 2005.
Sources: Ancestry.com, Legacy.com and FindAGrave.com
07/23/2024 EJS
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