Jason A. Wilkin

Jason Anthony “Jay-Bird” Wilkin, 54, passed away on December 10, 2023, at his home with his wife Samantha by his side after a two year battle with Glioblastoma (brain cancer). He was born on July 31, 1969, in Berlin, VT, the son of James Wilkin and Jo-Ann (Alonzo) Wilkin. He would go on to marry Samantha (Beaulieu) Wilkin on July 15, 2022, in Manchester, NH.

Jason grew up in Barre Vermont and graduated in 1987 from Rock Point High School where he played football and hockey. After graduating he joined the Military and became a Marine and was stationed in Japan where he proudly fought in The Gulf War. Jason later became a mechanic and worked on Military trucks. He earned several certifications and Military medals.

In 1992 after serving 4 years, Jason settled down in California and opened a shop to service, repair and customize Harley Davidsons. In 2001 he returned to Vermont and continued his mechanical trades. Jason worked on anything he could get his hands on. There was no stopping him, he refused to give up. One of his favorite memories was cruising around in his Thunderbird with his niece Kelsie and cranking their favorite music. In 2007 Jason purchased a home in Derry NH and took on a job as a diesel mechanic for Avis/Budget Group in Boston, where he met his wife in 2010.

Jason had a passion for nature; he loved the ocean and enjoyed spending time at his mother's beach house and gathering with his siblings. He thrived on learning new things, and would never turn down a challenge. His great-niece Taylor Liska brought him so much joy, from the day she was born.  He enjoyed the simple things in life, helping her learn to take her first steps, using a bow and arrow, and how to ride her bike without training wheels, which was a miracle! He had many hobbies, including kayaking, hiking, snowmobiling, NASCAR, and taking long rides on his Harley with his wife, to name a few.

In 2012 he was blessed with his puppy, Baxter.  Baxter took over everything and became Jason's best friend and partner in crime. Even when Jason's energy was slowing down, playing and walking Baxter was his daily goal. Unfortunately, Baxter passed away earlier in May from cancer. With Jason's passion for NASCAR, he decided to buy one last sports car he and his wife would both enjoy, it had to be loud, fast, and have a manual transmission, so he bought a candy apple red Corvette so he could still get that little adrenaline rush that he had been missing. He loved sitting in the driver's seat and revving the engine up. He used to tease his wife that she could never drive fast enough for him. Jason was a true Marine, never complaining about the pain and suffering he was battling his focus was on making sure he was leaving his wife in good hands and she was "going to be ok". Jay-Bird will truly be missed by his family and friends, especially his soulmate Sami-Joe. 

Jason was predeceased by his father James Douglas Wilkin in 2008. He is survived by his wife Samantha (Beaulieu) Wilkin, step daughter Cassaundra Kalba of Bedford NH, step son Chad Montminy of Vermont, Mother Linda Winter of Vermont, mother in law Donna Kelley of NH , sisters Jada Anair and her husband James and Geneva Wilkin of Vermont, brothers James Wilkin of Vermont and Raj Wilkin of Hawaii, sister in law Tammy Johnston and her husband Peter, three nieces Maeghan Lumsden and Kelsie Baldwin of Vermont, and Nicole Ford of NH, two nephews Matthew and Ryan Liska of NH and 17 great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jason’s life will be held on Friday, January 5th from 5 PM to 7 PM at the Cremation Society of NH, 243 Hanover St. Manchester, NH. Family and friends are invited to attend.

Jason and Baxter’s final resting place will be at a later date after military honors at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to The Glioblastoma Foundation.