Kenneth James “Kenny” Wilson, 73, of Union City, died Thursday, October 3, 2019 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 7, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City with Pastor Marty Burdick officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Union City. Military honors will be provided by VFW Post #5319 of Athens, MI.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2019 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., also at the Lighthouse in Union City.
Kenny was born on February 8, 1946 in Coldwater, Michigan to Floyd and Virgil (Nichols) Wilson. With many hardships in throughout his life, Kenny persevered. He lost his mother when he was just eight years old and his father when he was twelve. His sister, Gloria and her husband Donald Little, took over raising him following his parent’s death. He lived most of his life in Union City and graduated from Union City High School in 1966.
Immediately following graduation, Kenny enlisted in the U.S. Army and went right to Vietnam, where he served honorably as a Section Chief in an artillery crew. Upon his discharge returned to Union City in 1969 and began working at H.C. Stark in Coldwater. He worked there for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2005. He was a member of the VFW in Athens for many years.
Kenny was the youngest of seven children and had to endure the deaths of all his siblings and tragically his son, Chad Wilson, died in 1997.
Stubborn, funny and kind are just a few traits Kenny will be remembered for. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and mushrooming. He looked forward to sitting on his deck watching the deer and the birds. He loved to watch westerns on television and usually had a cat by his side, as he fed and cared for several cats at his home. His love of cats and his soft blue eyes will not soon be forgotten by those that loved him.
Mr. Wilson is survived by his daughters Vicky Wilson on Union City and Lesley (John) Groothuis of VA, his grandchildren Lyssa (Brian) Parris and Alex Groothuis, all of VA, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his son, Chad, and his sister Gloria (Donald) Little, he was also preceded in death by his sisters Kay Saylor, Joyce Barber and Sharon James, and his brothers Robert Wilson and Keith Wilson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family, c/o Vicky Wilson.
