Jack Wilson

Jack E. Wilson, 84, of Heathsville, IL, passed away on September 11, 2025, in the comfort of his home. Jack was born on July 18, 1941, in Robinson, IL, the son of Clarence Phillip & Wilma Faye (Ingram) Wilson. He grew up in the Morea area, where life was simple but demanding, and work was never optional. By the time he was six, Jack was already farming, and when he wasn’t in school, he was either in the fields or helping his dad with carpentry jobs. He used to joke that he had the “mumps” more than any other kid at school, though the truth was that it was the excuse they gave to get him out of school and in the field during harvest time. Those early years gave him more than a work ethic; they gave him a way of life.

After graduating from Palestine High School in 1959, Jack followed a sense of adventure north to Rosemont, where he worked as a machinist, bartended at the racetrack, sold Christmas trees, and even manned the pumps at a gas station. He did whatever it took to provide for his young family. But his heart was always tied to home, and in 1968, the Wilsons returned to Crawford County, trading city streets for country roads and the steady rhythm of farm life.

It was around this time that Jack set his sights on Marathon. Every morning at 7:00, he showed up at the plant until they finally gave him a job. What began with persistence turned into a 30-year career that saw him work his way up to chief operator. He was proud to be entrusted with overseeing the demolition of the old crude unit. When he retired at the end of 1997, he grinned and said, “Out the gate in ’98!” Of course, “retirement” lasted exactly one day. By morning, Jack was on the road as a sales and service rep for John Zink, staying in the topside of the refining business for another two decades. Through it all, Jack never left the farm behind. Farming wasn’t just something he did; it was who he was, his passion, and his favorite way to spend a day.

Jack was strong, funny, and fiercely determined, the kind of man who believed there were two ways to do things: his way or the wrong way. He worked hard and expected the same from others, but he also knew how to enjoy life. In his younger years, he played fast-pitch softball, sometimes for three teams at a time! His love of sport never faded, and he rooted for the St. Louis Cardinals in the summer and the Chicago Bears every fall. He loved 50s rock and roll, especially The VanDells, and spent plenty of evenings watching The Andy Griffith Show, Gunsmoke, NCIS, and any movie starring John Wayne. He was a lifelong fan of John Deere, collecting memorabilia and keeping his tractors running like new. And he had a soft spot for antique cars, especially his pair of Impalas: the cherry-red ’62 that gleamed like new, and the blue ’66 whose failed brakes once turned an ordinary drive home into a white-knuckle adventure!

Jack was the kind of man who made friends wherever he went. Whether standing in line at Busch Stadium or sitting at the annual tractor pull, he’d strike up a conversation with anyone nearby. He plowed gardens and bladed driveways for widows, refusing payment (unless it came in the form of a pie, that is.) And if you worked with him at Marathon, you were part of a brotherhood that lasted a lifetime. That same sense of brotherhood carried over into his many years with the Flat Rock Masonic Lodge, where he took pride in being part of something bigger than himself. However, the greatest joy of Jack’s life was his family. He married Arlene Gaddis on July 10, 1965, and together they built a life where hard work and love went hand in hand. He was a proud and devoted father, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of his life.

Jack met the Lord on Easter Sunday in 1994, and his faith became the foundation for the rest of his life. He worshiped faithfully at Outer West Market Church of Christ, but we know that he now worships his Savior face-to-face. That confidence is our comfort, as we look forward to the day when we will join him in the presence of Christ.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Arlene Wilson; by his children & their spouses, Jay & Janice Wilson and Amy & Bill Edwards; his grandchildren, Christopher, Jamie, Jason, Elizabeth, Nathan, Abigail, Gregory, Brieanna, and Melissa; several great-grandchildren; and by his sisters & brothers-in-law, Roberta Jeanne Roth, Shirley & Wayne Stevenson, and Zella Jane & Jerry Cravens (and their families.) He was preceded in death by his parents.

A time of visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15th, at Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine, with Masonic services to follow at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Outer West Market Church of Christ or to the Palestine Food Pantry, with envelopes available at the funeral home. A private family graveside service will be held at the Palestine Cemetery.