Gerald "Jerry" Lee Wilson
March 3, 1938 - March 17, 2024
Obituary
Gerald (Jerry) Wilson, 86, beloved Father, Son, Spouse, Father-in-law, and friend departed for heaven on March 17, 2024. He entered this world on March 3, 1938, in Kellogg, ID, born to Maurice and Retta Wilson. He is survived by his daughter Cindy Dodge; son-in-law Tate Dodge; sister-in-law Marsha Lanam, and several nieces and nephews.
Jerry served in the Army and was stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage AK from 1962-64. It is there he met his wife, Marie. He was the Chief Dispatcher for the base motor pool, and she was a teacher on base. Jerry found his love for skiing at age 8. He won numerous awards in snow skiing during high school. He and Marie continued that passion by skiing 40 hours per week. In 1963, he was training for the US Alpine Ski Championships at Mt Alyeska in Anchorage, AK. While in Anchorage, he helped coordinate transportation for search and rescue efforts following the Great Alaskan Earthquake in March of 1964. After active duty, he moved to Portland, OR where he became a ski instructor at Mt Hood for several years and eventually taught Cindy to ski at the early age of 2. He, his wife Marie, of 40 years and his daughter Cindy were avid skiers.
In Portland, OR, he began working for Otis Elevator Company as a Parts Manager, through May of 1966. He then changed jobs to continue his work in logistics and worked for General Foods Corporation from 1966-1985. There he worked his way up to Customer Service Manager. During this time, he accepted a transfer which moved the family from Portland, Oregon to Fort Worth, TX. After retirement, he worked for American Airlines before returning back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to his folks in Kellogg, ID. He continued his logistics career at Seattle Cold Storage as their Logistics Manager. He later accepted a position as Distribution Manager for ProSource Distribution (distributor for Burger King and Taco Bell locations). After retiring from the logistics field, he finished his professional career at the IRS in Seattle, WA. He was a member of Delta Nu Alpha, Toastmasters International, transportation clubs, Elks Lodge, and the Knights of Columbus.
Jerry had several passions in life. First and foremost was his family. He also enjoyed skiing, travel, woodworking, making furniture and numerous birdhouses, working on and restoring cars, classic car shows, gardening, bird watching, bridge, pinochle, investing, and reading the newspaper. He loved tinkering with things to see how they worked. He had a love for roses and built a large rose garden in Marie’s honor. Jerry never met a chocolate that he didn’t like, whether it was brownies, ice cream, or chocolate candies – he loved it all and always had room for chocolate! He was a man who made an impression with whomever he met as a kind, caring, witty, humorous person who always had a story to tell. He is forever in our hearts, and may his legacy live on through all whose lives he touched. The rosary recitation is scheduled at 12pm, followed by his funeral mass at 1pm on April 5, 2024, at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 30525 8th Ave. S., Federal Way, WA 98003. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude (www.stjude.org) or Boys Town (www.boystown.org) so that others may benefit.
So very much have felt the loss of a parent. Good memories will stay with you. (And oh my, do you look like your mom) You and Tate did so much for him over the last years. Your folks smile down at you from Heaven. 🙏
Jerry was an incredible man !! I feel so lucky to have had the chance to know him. All my Love to Cindi and Tate.