Jean Wilson

Memorial Services for Jean L. Wilson will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 6, at South Blue Earth Lutheran Church, rural Bricelyn, MN. The Reverend  Reid Ellis will officiate.  Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea.  Friends may visit with family one hour before services at the church. Jean went to rest peacefully, cared for at home by her family, on Thursday, May 31. She was 82.  Jean Lucille was born on June 16, 1935, in Worth County, Iowa, the daughter of Gilman and Cora (Troe) Groe.  She and her 10 siblings grew up in the Joice, Iowa area. She married Samuel D. Wilson on July 5, 1953 at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, Iowa.  Sam was in the wholesale plumbing business and they moved around until settling in Albert Lea, where they raised their family.  They retired to their lake retreat on First Crow Wing Lake and later returned to the Bricelyn area. Jean enjoyed her church family at South Blue Earth Lutheran Church. She served as lector at church services and had been very active and held offices in WELCA. She quilted and did other church projects for charity, as well as assisted with bingo at St. Luke’s. Over the years Jean was very passionate about her involvement with the Legion Auxiliary, locally, and at the District level. In earlier years she had been active in the Order of the Eastern Star. Jean loved to travel.  In early years the family tented and camped and in later years she and Sam enjoyed their adventures in their motor home. In addition to raising her family, Jean had many interests. Playing cards, especially Bridge and 500, quilting, knitting, crocheting,  cooking, reading, jigsaw puzzles, gardening and canning to name a few.  Her canine friends were a very important part of her life. Spending time with her children and her siblings were always joyful times for her. Whether it was baking cookies, making applesauce donuts, lefsa or salsa, fishing up- north, binge watching Blue Bloods, or a competitive game of cards, being together made it better. Jean is survived by  her children: Gregory (Paula) Wilson of Albert Lea, Sandra (Roland) Buhler of Colorado Springs, CO,  Randy Wilson (Jean Ann) of Bricelyn and Robert Wilson of Bricelyn; grandchildren: Josh (Erica) Wilson, Whitney Wilson, Amy Ryan, Christopher Ryan, Miguel Granados, Diego Granados, Amber Wegner, Ashly (Jason) Kincheloe; great grandchildren: Keishawna, Joey, Wesley, Athena, Andrés, Adrian and Anabella, Emery and Alexandra; sisters Marjorie Myhr and Shirley Holstad, sisters-in-law Evelyn Groe and Sadie Thompson many nieces, nephews and friends. Jean was preceded in death by her parents,  her husband Samuel D. Wilson  her daughter Debra Marie,  sons Samuel Steven and Steven Samuel, seven brothers: Gene, Orlin, Raymond, Lester, Gaylord, Noreen and Dennis; sisters Irene McDowell and Carol Willand, sisters-in-law, Norma Groe, Lovenea Groe, Helen Groe, Gladys Groe and brothers-in-law Bud Willand, Dale Holstad and Roy Myhr.