Dorothy Louise "Dot" Wilson

1933 - 2025

Dorothy Louise "Dot" Wilson

August 16, 1933 - August 19, 2025

Dorothy Louise "Dot" Wilson, 92, formerly of Minonk, IL, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at OSF St. Joseph's Medical Center in Bloomington, IL.

She was born August 16, 1933 in Linn County, MO, to John and Elsie (Peavler) Cordray. She married her high school sweetheart, Arthur D. Wilson, on December 12, 1951, in Marceline, MO. He died February 16, 2015. She was also preceded in death by her nine older brothers and sisters, Walter, Paul, Carl, Guy, Norville, Hubert, Alma, Erma, and Ruby; son, Danny Wilson; and grandson, Drew Wilson.

Surviving are her children, Sherri (David) Stokowski of Minonk, IL, Randal Wilson of Minonk, IL, Jani (Steaven) Carey of East Peoria, IL, Steve (Kelly) Wilson of Palmyra, VA; 11 grandchildren, Marisa (Jason) Buchanan, Bloomington, IL; Ryan (Erin) Hill, Wake Forest, NC; Craig (Jessica) Stokowski, Eureka, IL; Cory Stokowski, Minonk, IL; Jake Helfers, Pekin, IL; Jenny (J.P.) Fisher, Bartonville, IL; Chad Helfers, Pekin, IL; Kurt (Amy) Wilson, Fort Mill, SC; Chelsea (Everett) Pettit, Anacortes, WA; Alex (Beth) Wilson, Bloomington, IL; Grace (Al) Garcia, Seneca, IL; 18 great-grandchildren, Kade, Kaya, Avery, Audrey, Scarlet, Noah, Jack, Quinn, Drake, Cynthia, Jordan, Jaxon, Mason, Cooper, Chase, Carter, Jay, Dylan.

Dorothy was a news correspondent for the Bloomington Pantagraph, Peoria Journal Star, and the Streator Times Press for many years covering Minonk city and school meetings, school, club and other social news. In 1978 she was the recipient of the Pantagraph's state reporter of the year award being chosen from more than 90 area Pantagraph correspondents. She was editor of the Minonk News Dispatch in the late 80s and early 90s. She worked at the Family Tree clothing store in Minonk, formerly known as Kurrles. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Minonk, serving on many committees through the years and a member of its (UMW) United Methodist Women group. She served as an election judge and volunteered at Heritage Manor Nursing Home. She enjoyed playing card games, Yahtzee, Scrabble, and flower gardening. She also loved to crochet and sew. Her greatest joy was her family. So often she could be seen in the stands cheering on her grandkids and great-grandkids sporting events and seldom turned down an invitation to go. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in Minonk, IL. Visitation will be one hour prior to services, starting at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Minonk Township Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in Minonk or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Tributes and condolences may be made at www.ruestmanharrisfuneralhome.com.

Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home

775 N. Chestnut St., Minonk, IL 61760

309-432-3999