Mary Jane Wilson

DeKALB – Jane Wilson, formerly of Dixon, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, surrounded by her loving family at the age of 93. She was living at Pine Acres Rehabilitation and Living Center in DeKalb at the time of her passing.

She was born Sept. 29, 1919, in Urbana, to Leonard and Noma (Carlton) Drake. She was raised in Benton. She moved from Benton to Dixon looking for work, which she found at Freeman Shoe Co. She married Olin “John” Wilson on Sept. 20, 1939, in Clinton, Iowa. Their life together was shortened when Olin passed away Sept. 27, 1962, at the age of 42. After Olin’s death, Jane lived in an apartment complex, which she had built, and managed and maintained the premises on her own.

Jane worked at many of the ladies clothing stores in downtown Dixon during the 1960s through the 1980s. She also worked at many of the area restaurants. After her retirement, she continued to find new interests to keep herself occupied, such as crocheting, knitting, needlepoint, and ceramics. Even before she retired, she would enjoy playing some golf. As family members, we all have many crocheted afghans to remind us of her handiwork. One afghan that no one knew about was found in her closet, with her great-granddaughter’s name on it for the day she gets married.

Jane was an amazing woman in many ways, and because of all the things she accomplished on her own for all those years without Olin at her side.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Monte) Saunders of Visalia, Calif.; her son, Loren (Laurie) Wilson of Malta; her grandchildren, Todd Saunders of Los Angeles, Lisa (Bill) Hayter of Exeter, Calif., Mark Wilson of Durand, and Mike (Tracy) Wilson of Freeport; and her great-grandchildren, Kyle Hayter and Amber Hayter, both of Exeter, and Joel Wilson of Durand.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, five brothers, and one sister.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday and the funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Dixon. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Dixon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in honor of Jane to the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Association, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Visit www.chapelhilldixon.com to send condolences.