John C. Wilson

John Christopher Wilson, 68, of Pine Village, Indiana, passed away on January 28, 2026, after spending his final days surrounded by family.
Born January 1, 1958, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, John was the first baby born in the city that year. He was the son of Marion (Murphy) and Thomas Wilson and the youngest of twelve children.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings and in-laws Jerry Wilson (Toni), Camilla Anderson (Gerry), Nola Guman (Louie), Father Thomas Wilson, Oly Wilson, Pat Ashby, Mike Wilson, and Ray Phillips.
He is survived by his siblings and in-laws Dennis Wilson (Mary), Mary Phillips, Eileen Stary (Mitch), and Cathy Welbes (Dave). He is also survived by his parents-in-law, Bob and Dodie Atkinson; and his sisters- and brothers-in-law Teresa Messerman (Craig), Kristy Dhaliwal (Avi), and Robert Atkinson (Sue).
John is also survived by his beloved wife, children, and grandchildren. John and his wife, Lisa, shared more than 40 years together. They met while working at Yellowstone National Park in August of 1985 and were married in May of 1986. They loved traveling together and, in 2025, took a wonderful trip to Italy, where they enjoyed wine tasting and making pasta side by side.
John and Lisa are the proud parents of two children, Elizabeth Shoaf (Casey) and Eli Wilson (Keara). In recent years, John found his greatest joy in being a devoted grandfather to his two cherished grandchildren, Nola, age 3, daughter of Elizabeth and Casey, and Ozzy, 22 months, son of Eli and Keara.
John worked for the Benton Community School Corporation for more than 30 years. He was known for his quirky sense of humor, his love of photography, and his deep appreciation for travel—both in spirit and in practice. Above all, John was always ready to lend a helping hand to his family. He loved his very large family dearly, including his many siblings, nieces, and nephews, and he will be deeply missed.
A visitation and brief service will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Soller-Baker, West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway West, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906. The service is open to the public, and a livestream link will be available for those unable to travel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.