Richard "Rick" Wilson

Richard (Rick) Wilson passed away peacefully at home on June 4th, 2026 after a yearlong battle with cancer. His family was by his side.

He was born on Christmas Eve 1950 to Richard and Ruth (Poole) Wilson in Cumberland, Maryland. He was the youngest of four children.

Rick was a 1968 graduate of Allegany High School, Cumberland.

On December 29th 1969, he married Lynn McNeel in SS Peter’s and Paul’s Catholic Church, Cumberland. A month after they were married, they moved to Freeport, Illinois for his job at Kelly-Springfield. He started in the tire room and then joined the apprenticeship program becoming a journeyman pipefitter. He worked at the tire plant for 43 years.

Rick was a good, easy-going, hard- working guy. He was happiest working in his backyard or with a fixer-up project in the house. He was seldom idle.

He was the proud father to three children. Rick (Heather) Wilson, Louisville, KY. Travis (Sonya) Wilson, Oberlin, OH. And Molly (Brady) Jarvis, Chicago, Illinois.

Rick was the proudest grandpa to seven grandchildren. Cole, Soren, Laila, Elijah, Levi, Ian and Theo.

He enjoyed a wonderful relationship with his brother-in-law, Stevan McNeel, who has lived with Lynn and him for the past 15 years.

Rick enjoyed photography, biking, pickleball and flying his model airplane.

He was a member of St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church where he served as an usher.

Rick was a lifelong Washington (Redskins) Commander’s fan and recently predicted they would win the super bowl next season.

Besides his immediate family, Rick is survived by his three sisters. Linda Hargis, Harvard, MA. Scarlett Evans, Clarksburg, MD. And Patti (James) Squires, Cumberland, MD. Mac and Marvetta McNeel, Tulsa, OK as well as Michael and Kathy McNeel also survive him. He was preceded in death by his parents. His mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mac and Catherine McNeel. And three brother’s-in-law, Thomas Hargis, Ron Evans and Patrick McNeel.

The Wilson family would like to thank the Carbone Cancer Center of Rockford and the wonderful Mercy Health Hospice Team.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Burke Tubbs on Monday, June 15th from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm and funeral Mass at St Thomas Aquinas on June 16th at 10:30 AM with burial at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Mr. Wilson’s memory.