Gregory John Wilson, age 76, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, MN.
A time of gathering will be held on Monday, July 8, 2024 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm and will be immediately followed by a Masonic Service at 6:00 pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 4565 Pleasant Street SE, Prior Lake. All are welcome to attend. Greg will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN, on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 9:45am. Pastor William MacLean will preside.
Memorials are preferred and will be donated in Greg’s honor to the Lebanon Lodge #346, Zuhrah Shriners, and to the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church’s Cathedral of the Pines camp.
Greg was born on April 16, 1948 to William and Carol (Kreutter) Wilson in Minneapolis, MN. Growing up, he was a member of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and was involved in the Cherub Choir. He also served as a counselor at Mount Olivet’s Cathedral of the Pines camp. Greg and Ann rejoined the Mount Olivet congregation in 2020.
Greg graduated from Edina High School in 1966 and went on to earn an Associate of Arts degree in 1969. During this time, he met the love of his life, Ann Waterston, on a blind date in 1967. Ann and Greg were united in marriage on August 1, 1969 at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis. Greg and Ann bought their first home in Minneapolis in the late 70’s before moving to Burnsville in 1983 and eventually settled into a townhome in Prior Lake in 2004. Together, they were blessed with two children, Amy and Peter, and three grandchildren, Zachary, Alexander, and Olivia.
Greg joined the Army Reserves in 1971, serving honorably as a Sergeant First Class until 1982. He worked for Northwest Airlines for many years before moving on to Bloomington Bus Company, Jefferson Bus Lines, and finally to Richfield Bus Company in 1990 where he retired as an office manager in 2016. In retirement, Greg worked part time at Manheim Northstar Auto Auction in Shakopee where he loved driving and learning about the wide variety of cars that came through the lot.
Greg loved spending time with Ann and his family. They loved traveling and took their family on several vacations across the country. Once the kids were grown, Ann and Greg embarked on 26 cruises together touring the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. Greg enjoyed the theater and was a season ticket holder at the Guthrie Theater for many years. He was an avid reader – an interest he shared with Ann’s father, Warren – and particularly enjoyed works by Vince Flynn and John Sanford. He also loved woodworking, spending many hours in his workshop crafting Adirondack chairs, tables, bird houses, coasters, and anything else that caught his interest.
When Greg wasn’t at work or spending time with his family, he was dedicated to serving the community. From roughly 2005 to 2024 he was an on-and-off member of the Board of Directors for the Deerfield Coach Homes homeowner’s association as well as the Prior Lake Traffic Safety Advisory Committee from 2006-2015. Most meaningful to Greg, however, was his service in the Lodge and as a Shriner. He joined the Lebanon Lodge #346 in 2012 and was secretary there for many years. He was also a recent member of the Minnesota Valley Shrine Club. He joined the Zuhrah Shriners in 2014 and served as Commander of the Legion of Honor in 2021. One of his favorite activities was driving the jeeps in the summer parade fundraisers for the Shriners.
Greg was diagnosed in 2016 with a form of cancer called leiomyosarcoma. Throughout his battle with cancer, he was determined to enjoy every day and spent much of the winter months in the warmth of Florida where he was often visited by his family.
Greg will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Ann; children, Amy (Donovin) Mollner and Peter (Jenny) Wilson; grandchildren, Zachary Mollner, Alexander Mollner, and Olivia Wilson; brother, Paul (Sandy) Wilson; sister, Nancy Alich; and other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Carol Wilson.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation has proudly served and cared for the Wilson family.
