The funeral service for Wayne Wilson will be held Saturday January 6th at 2:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wanamingo. The Reverend David Sorenson will officiate. Visitation will be from 12:00 – 2:00 PM at the church. Burial will follow at the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery. Mr. Wilson, 73, of Wanamingo, died Saturday December 23, 2023 at Goodhue Living in Goodhue.
A life defined by music, Wayne Everett Wilson was born November 18, 1950 in Bentonville, Arkansas to Everett and Wanda (Rider) Wilson. At an early age the family moved to Plains, Montana and Wayne was raised there. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Concordia College in Moorhead, and it was there that he met Diane Finley while on a Christian outreach team. The couple married in 1972. In 1978, the couple moved to Caledonia, Minnesota where Wayne worked as an insurance salesman. He would eventually complete radiology training from Western Wisconsin Technical College, and in 1990 he began a career in radiology at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse. He continued at Fairview Hospital in Red Wing until his retirement in 2017.
Wayne and Diane loved singing together, and they often sang at weddings, funerals, church, and community events. He joined the community band in Caledonia, and later in Zumbrota. As a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Caledonia, he was involved in adult bible study, worked with the youth group, taught Sunday school, and chaperoned youth trips. At Trinity Lutheran Church in Wanamingo, he ushered and served on the church council.
Throughout his lifetime, he was an avid reader, enjoyed working on cars, woodworking, bicycle riding, hiking, and camping. He loved traveling, and particularly enjoyed visiting wineries.
He is survived by his wife Diane of Wanamingo; sons, Matthew of Fremont, Nebraska, Marc of Maple Grove, and Luke (Khari) of Chatfield; a daughter Bethany (Josh) Feine of Cazenovia, Wisconsin; 7 grandchildren, Aidan Wilson, Maya Stadler, Claire Stadler, Clara Wilson, Ryan Stadler, Ella Stadler, and Elizabeth Wilson; 2 step-grandchildren, Isabel and Isaiah Feine. Also surviving are his sister Kathleen (Donald) Simmons of Cheney, Washington; as well as nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
If so desired, memorials may be directed to The Alzheimer’s Association at 3261 19th St NW, Suite 201, Rochester Minnesota 55901.
