Jean Ann Wilson, 78, of Topeka died on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at the St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.
She was born on February 19, 1939 in Emporia, Kansas the daughter of Bernard F. and Helen B. Miller Gilligan. She married James A. Wilson on May 27, 1957 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hartford, Kansas.
Surviving family members include: husband, James A. Wilson of the home; son, J. Todd Wilson and companion, Karen Lacey, Emporia, KS; brother, Jim Gilligan (Karen) of Marco Island, FL; sister, Sarah Mounkes, Emporia, KS; step-brother, Joe Bowman (Barbara) of Veneta, OR; step-sister, Mary Ellen Force, Slidell, LA; grandchildren, Michael S. (Tara) Wilson , Allen, KS; Tyler S. (Ashly) Wilson, Lawrence, KS; step-grandchildren, Kaylee Burton, and Jaxon Leinbaugh; great-grandchildren, Holly Wilson, Dominic Wilson, Kemper James Wilson, and Brynlee Jean Wilson; nephew, Sean (Shea) Gilligan of Portland, OR; special family friends, Richard Keller of Kansas City, MO; and Jodi Wilson, Emporia KS.
Jean is preceded in death by her father Bernard F. Gilligan, mother Helen B. Gilligan Bowman; brother, Gerald (Jerry) Gilligan, brother-in-law, Gary Mounkes; stepfather Vince Bowman, step-sister, Ann Bowman; grandsons Kyle M. Wilson, and Michael S. Wilson.
Jeans career began with Didde Glaser in Emporia, KS. While there, she also attended ESU. where she earned her BA in Business. They then moved to Liberal Ks. where she attended Seward Co. Community College, and also completed an outreach program from Friends University, Wichita. Next, in Topeka, KS she was employed with Santa Fe RR. and after 32 years with them and BNSF, she retired. She was never idle. Her interests were many. She earned an MBA from Baker University in 2000. She was talented and creative, an avid reader, artist, painter, seamstress and writer. Several of her poems won recognition and were published. She enjoyed golf, painting, crafts, antiques, and music. Before moving from Hartford, she played the organ at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and sang in the choir. She attended Holy Name Parish in Topeka.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 am, Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hartford with burial following at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Hartford. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 pm, Wednesday, January 24th at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia. The family will receive friends following the rosary. Memorial contributions to the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery can be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jean Ann Wilson, please visit our flower store.
She was born on February 19, 1939 in Emporia, Kansas the daughter of Bernard F. and Helen B. Miller Gilligan. She married James A. Wilson on May 27, 1957 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hartford, Kansas.
Surviving family members include: husband, James A. Wilson of the home; son, J. Todd Wilson and companion, Karen Lacey, Emporia, KS; brother, Jim Gilligan (Karen) of Marco Island, FL; sister, Sarah Mounkes, Emporia, KS; step-brother, Joe Bowman (Barbara) of Veneta, OR; step-sister, Mary Ellen Force, Slidell, LA; grandchildren, Michael S. (Tara) Wilson , Allen, KS; Tyler S. (Ashly) Wilson, Lawrence, KS; step-grandchildren, Kaylee Burton, and Jaxon Leinbaugh; great-grandchildren, Holly Wilson, Dominic Wilson, Kemper James Wilson, and Brynlee Jean Wilson; nephew, Sean (Shea) Gilligan of Portland, OR; special family friends, Richard Keller of Kansas City, MO; and Jodi Wilson, Emporia KS.
Jean is preceded in death by her father Bernard F. Gilligan, mother Helen B. Gilligan Bowman; brother, Gerald (Jerry) Gilligan, brother-in-law, Gary Mounkes; stepfather Vince Bowman, step-sister, Ann Bowman; grandsons Kyle M. Wilson, and Michael S. Wilson.
Jeans career began with Didde Glaser in Emporia, KS. While there, she also attended ESU. where she earned her BA in Business. They then moved to Liberal Ks. where she attended Seward Co. Community College, and also completed an outreach program from Friends University, Wichita. Next, in Topeka, KS she was employed with Santa Fe RR. and after 32 years with them and BNSF, she retired. She was never idle. Her interests were many. She earned an MBA from Baker University in 2000. She was talented and creative, an avid reader, artist, painter, seamstress and writer. Several of her poems won recognition and were published. She enjoyed golf, painting, crafts, antiques, and music. Before moving from Hartford, she played the organ at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and sang in the choir. She attended Holy Name Parish in Topeka.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 am, Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hartford with burial following at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Hartford. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 pm, Wednesday, January 24th at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia. The family will receive friends following the rosary. Memorial contributions to the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery can be sent in care of the funeral home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jean Ann Wilson, please visit our flower store.
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