Cletis Leroy Wilson

Cletis Leroy "Clete" Wilson, Kansas native and longtime Florida resident, passed peacefully on March 5, 2026; he was 92. Clete was born on July 21st, 1933, in Luray, Kansas, where he grew up working on his father's wheat and alfalfa farm. He obtained his driver's license at 13. Clete played football for the Kansas State College Wildcats, where he was a three-time letterman. Clete married Marilyn Irene Jenson in 1953 while they both attended college. Clete graduated from KSC in 1956 with a BS in Agriculture and would later go on to earn an MBA.

Having completed the ROTC program, Clete joined the U.S. Air Force in 1956. A master flight navigator, he logged over 9,000 flight hours. A 20-year veteran, Clete's Air Force assignments took him, his wife, and the growing family to Texas, Florida, Georgia, England, Missouri, Germany, California, and Michigan. Clete proudly served in Vietnam and received multiple medals for his service. Having achieved the rank of Major, Clete retired after 20 years of service. Upon retirement, Clete and Marilyn moved to Pensacola in 1978, where they owned and managed waterfront property, including 20 rental units, with Clete, a "jack of all trades," performing all the maintenance while building three homes. In 1992, the couple moved to DeFuniak Springs, where Clete enjoyed operating the "dozer" to carve out new lakes on his extensive property. Clete built three houses for his family during his life and career. The last house he built was on Lake Wilson near DeFuniak Springs. Clete especially delighted in leading the grandkids on ATV excursions around the property, and in fishing, swimming, skiing, and boating on Lake Wilson. Clete's improvements to the property included a half-mile road and four large ponds.

Clete is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Marilyn (née Jenson), daughter Cindy Roper (husband Kevin), sons Alan (wife Michelle), Wesley (Cristina), and Dr. Vance (wife Dawn); grandchildren Christopher, Peter, and Dr. Rosemary Roper; Brittany Haslett (husband Daniel); Nicole McBrine (husband Eric); Chase (wife Lauren), Lauren Stanton (husband Matthew), and Brooke and Olivia Wilson; great-grandchildren Logan, William, Edison, Aidan, Adeline, and Stella. Clete was predeceased by his parents, Leroy Hugh Wilson and Hazel Fern (née Berger), and his brother, Dennis.

Funeral arrangements for Clete have been entrusted to Lohman Funeral Home in Ormond Beach. A burial ceremony will take place at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, March 20 at 9:30 AM [Arrive by 9:00 AM] with a private reception afterward in Ormond Beach.