Gene Wilson

Vernon “Gene” Wilson, 90, of Cheyenne, died on December 3 at Davis Hospice Center.
Gene was born in Chanute, Kansas on January 26, 1928 to Earl & Hazel. He lived in Chanute until 1943 when he moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Gene attended Cheyenne High School and graduated early to join the Navy on October 6, 1945. He served until January 25, 1949.
On July 5, 1947, Gene married his high school sweetheart, Frances McFadden, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Upon his discharge, Gene & Frances were going to ride his Indian Chief Motorcycle home to Cheyenne but opted to take the bus. They were so glad they did because they traveled home in the blizzard of ‘49. The motorcycle was shipped home and arrived in great shape. Gene immediately went to work for his uncles at Wilson Brothers Excavating moving snow.
The majority of Gene’s adult life was spent working in the grocery business which began at Brannen’s Market in the early 1950’s and ended at Capitol City Foods when he retired in the early 1990’s – spanning over 40 years.
Gene was a member of St. Joseph’s Parish and St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish. He donated countless hours to both his church and the Telephone Pioneers.
He enjoyed bowling and on any given weekend could be found playing horseshoes with his dad, brothers, sons, sons-in-law and grandsons.
He was an avid hunter and spent many happy hours hunting with his family. During his lifetime, he was the recipient of 6 moose licenses, quite a record.
Gene was the family movie taker and photographer. The history of his children’s youth is forever preserved thanks to him.
Survivors include his brothers Lloyd & Mack and his sister Peggy Splane; five daughters: Connie (Rod) Janney; Lorraine Quarberg, Mary Cordova, Therese (Tim) Hupp, and Virginia (Brian) Harris; four sons: Timothy (Lori) Wilson; Dan (Karen) Wilson, Tom (Ronda) Wilson, and Bob Wilson; 21 grandchildren: Paul (Samantha), Jennifer, Dawn (Randy), Randy (Rachel), Michael (Niloufar), Erin (Dan), Mark, Laura (Brandon), Rachel (Toby), Dan (Renee), Sara (James), Cody (Tracy), Josh (Kristen), Jordan(Philicia), Crystal (Johnny), Joseph, Thomas (Hannah), Erik, Ragen; 34 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Frances; brothers: Eldean, Gary, & Tuffy; sisters: Martha Welch and Eileen Davis; nephew, Terry Wilson; nieces: Barbie Wilson, Julie (Wilson) Galusha and Deanna (Davis) Hansen; and son-in-law, DeLoyd Quarberg.
Special thanks to Sara, Jenny, John, Nancy, Katrina, Leland, Patty, Barb, Carole, Loretta, Shana, LaDawn, Sunshine, Dr. Philip Schiel & the staff at Davis Hospice Center for their support, kindness and care provided to our dad.
Vigil services will be held on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:00pm at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. Funeral liturgy will be held on Thursday, December 6 at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Cathedral with internment to follow at Olivet Cemetery. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s School, St. Mary’s Cathedral or Davis Hospice Center.