May 25, 1938 – March 5, 2025
Henry Wilson, beloved husband of the late Carol Jean Wilson (nee Weeks) of Cochrane, AB, passed away on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the age of 86 years.
Born on May 25, 1938, in Vermilion, AB, he was the oldest of six children to Mary and Clarence Wilson.
Henry was predeceased by his wife, Carol Wilson. He is survived by his four children, Blaine (Terri), Sharlene (Nicholas), Jan, and Charles (Kerri); his seven grandchildren, Alexis (Dhruv), Madison, Skylar, Damian, Brock, Oliver, and Tessa; one great-grandchild Fiona, and his friend Betty Lou Tomlinson. He is also survived by his brother Bill Wilson, and sisters, Margaret Bell and Jeanette Winters.
He grew up on the Wilson farm outside of Vermilion, AB, where according to Henry and vouched for by his mother, he learned to drive a vehicle at the age of six. Henry left high school to work in construction before starting his career selling life insurance for Sun Life. Shortly after starting his career, Henry noticed the new schoolteacher section of the Vermilion newspaper and saw a woman he wanted to meet—so he went to the school to see his friend the principal so he could be introduced to the new teacher, Carol Jean Weeks. Henry and Carol married on July 31, 1965.
Henry obtained his CLU, ChFC, and CFP designations on his path to a long and successful career with Sun Life achieving multiple sales awards over his 35-plus years. Henry was very proud of his job and worked hard for his clients. Perhaps a reason for his success was that Henry loved to be around people. Rarely would a day go by when he wouldn't meet friends for a coffee in the morning or stop by Smitty's for a coffee before dinner. He spent 20-plus years active with the Lloydminster Minor Hockey Association and joined the Rotary Club later on in his career.
Henry was active throughout his entire life. From years of playing hockey and walking, Henry spent his retirement loving activities such as swimming, winning many medals in the Alberta Senior Games, going to the Spray Lakes gym, and his most recent love, pickleball. Even at the age of 86, Henry was all too ready to pick up his paddle and take on anyone, regardless of age or skill level, in a pickleball game.
By all that knew Henry, he will be most remembered by his "can do" attitude, and he applied it to all areas of his life, from driving in a blizzard to get home or signing up for another season of slow pitch when he was going to turn 87. It was his greatest quality.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the A.L.S. Society of Alberta (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), 7874 – 10th Street N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 8W1, www.alsab.ca.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Henry's family at www.MHFH.com.
In living memory of Henry Wilson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes.
