Wilmer Roy "Wil" Watson

1929 - 2017

Wilmer "Wil" Roy Watson, 87

Bourbonnais, IL - Wilmer "Wil" Roy Watson, 87, of Bourbonnais, Illinois, passed away Thursday, March 16, 2017.  He was born November 12, 1929, in Gladwin, Michigan, to Roy and Gladys (Wilson) Watson. 

Wil graduated from Olivet Nazarene College in 1952 and from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 1955. He faithfully and humbly served as a Nazarene pastor for 40 years, pastoring Northside Church of the Nazarene, in Elkhart, Indiana, from 1955 to 1962, Decatur Church of the Nazarene, in Decatur, Indiana, from 1962 to 1969, Southside Church of the Nazarene, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, from 1969 to 1979, and Muncie First Church of the Nazarene, in Muncie, Indiana, from 1979 to 1995.  Wil also served as the District Secretary for the Northeast Indiana District of the Church of the Nazarene for 28 years.  In his "retirement", Wil also served as an assistant pastor for Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene, a supply pastor for churches in the Kankakee area, and an Enterprise Car Rental driver for 18 years. Wil also helped plant the Church of the Nazarene in the Congo, which now has over 300 Nazarene churches.

Wil was foremost a fully devoted follower of Jesus, genuinely cared about people, and had a passion for helping others come to know Jesus and grow in their faith.  Wil also enjoyed spending time with his family, building things, fixing things, writing (authoring The Principle Centered Life, published in 2008, along with numerous articles, devotionals, and letters to the editor), listening to Paul Harvey and Rush Limbaugh, boating, sports, driving, helping others, and generally staying busy.

Wil is survived by his second wife Carol (Foor) Watson (married July 22, 1995) of Bourbonnais, Illinois, his son David Watson (wife Margie) of Shawnee, Kansas, his daughter Karen Fosnaugh (husband Lane) of Huntertown, Indiana, son Stephen Watson (wife Tracy) of Greenwood, Indiana, stepson Matt Foor (wife Beth) of Bourbonnais, Illinois, stepdaughter Marci Reynolds (husband Adam) of Bourbonnais, Illinois, nephew Mark Ruckert (wife Linda) of Mishawaka, Indiana, and niece Barbara Warren (husband Mark) of Winter Haven, Florida.

Also surviving are fourteen grandchildren, Kristen Shultis (husband Ron), Kerry Leamon, Ember Hacker (husband Jordan), Destiny Ogden (husband Brent), Tyler Watson, Austin Watson, Haley Watson, Nathan Foor, Noelle Foor, Trey Reynolds, Addison Reynolds, Joy Arnold (husband Ian), Laura Flemming (husband Taylor), and Sarah Fosnaugh; and three great-grandchildren, Ahnisty Lewis, Ezekiel Hacker, and Jaydan Hacker.

Preceding Wil in death was his first wife Donna (Hay) Watson (married June 20, 1953), as well as his sister Rena Ruckert, and his son-in-law Kevin Leamon.

Visitation is from 2:00 p.m. (CT) until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, 295 Main St., NW, Bourbonnais, Illinois 60914. The funeral service will follow the next day at 11:00 a.m. (CT) on Monday, March 20, 2017, at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene, 1000 N. Entrance Ave., Kankakee, IL 60901. The funeral service will be preceded by visitation (also at the church) at 10:00 a.m. (CT). A graveside service officiated by Rev. David Watson will occur the following day on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT), at Roselawn Cemetery in Auburn, Indiana.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene Building Fund Debt, 1000 N. Entrance Ave., Kankakee, IL 60901.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Hospice of Kankakee Valley for their support in Wil's final days.

Please sign his guestbook at www.clancygernon.com.