SIDNEY – Thomas Martin Wilson, 81, of Sidney passed away at 10:23 a.m. Wednesday (March 2, 2016) at home.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Freese Funeral Home in Sidney. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Countryside United Methodist Church, 1807 CR 1000 N, Urbana.
Tom was born on April 1, 1934, on Easter Sunday, in Urbana, the son of Arthur and Rosella Brown Wilson. He married Joyce Hale on Aug. 27, 1960, at the Methodist Church in Sidney. They enjoyed 55 years of married life. She survives.
Also surviving are sons, Thomas Martin "Marty" Wilson Jr., (fiancee, Kathy Schindler), of Broadlands; Paul (Tracy) Wilson of St. Joseph; Ross (Jen) Wilson of Windsor; Douglas Wilson of New York, N.Y.; John Wilson of Taylorville; and Steven Wilson of New York.
Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Jamie Meharry, Joshua Wilson, Lyndsay Tharp, Rachel Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Melissa Wheeler, Meghan Wilson and Evan Wilson; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Ronald Wilson; two sisters, Mary Davison and Helen Hales; a grandson, Tyler Thomas Wilson; and great-granddaughter, Ashlyn Wheeler.
Tom went to Pleasant Hill Grade School and graduated from Longview High School in 1952. He attended Parkland College and graduated with an associate degree in applied science, agriculture business management, in 2002.
He served in the Air Force during the Korean War as an airplane mechanic. Tom farmed for 40 years in rural Broadlands, also working at Brewer Chevrolet in Homer, and McKinley Foundation Hospital.
He owned and operated Wilson Farm Drainage and during his farming career was able to improve the drainage on the entire family farm. After retiring from farming and moving to Sidney he drove a school bus for the St. Joseph-Ogden School District.
Tom received his pilot's license in 1986 and belonged to the F & W Flyers. He loved vanilla ice cream, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, Illini sports, Longview School reunions, John Deere tractors, his "Blue Diesel VW Bug" and greatly enjoyed his morning "safety meetings" and his "Tom and Jerry Trips." He enjoyed woodworking and made numerous picture frames using wood recycled from the barn once located on the family farm.
Most of all, he enjoyed being with his family, grandchildren and countless friends! He will truly be missed and never forgotten by our entire family! Forever in our hearts!
He was active in the Sidney American Legion Post 433 and he once served as Champaign County commander. He was a past member of the Sidney Lions Club, Methodist Men and the Champaign County Farm Bureau. He was an honorary Chapter Farmer of the ABL Vocational FFA Agriculture.
Donations may be made to the Sidney American Legion Post 433, Countryside United Methodist Church or the donor's choice.
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