John "Jack" Henry Wilson

John H. Wilson (better known as Jack), age 79, peacefully passed away in his home in Southport, North Carolina on January 10th, 2023 after battling Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Parkinson's Disorder. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joan (Joanne) Wilson, three children: John Wilson (and Deanna Drumm Wilson), Sandi Abraham, and Kelli Wilson – as well as eight grandchildren: Michael (26), John (26), Nicole (25), James (24), Carlie (23), Allison (22), Madison (21), and Jack (13).

Born in Philadelphia on December 18th, 1943, Jack spent most of his childhood in Southern New Jersey until he attended the University of Miami for two years. At age 20, a rebellious yet forward-thinking Jack started working for his late father, Charles L. Wilson, at Spencer Industries where he met the love of his life, Joanne Elliott. 16 months after meeting one another, they were happily married and eager to begin their lives together.

At a rather young age, Jack discovered his true passion was to work in the food service industry. Never failing to put a smile on his customers’ faces, he opened, served, and managed the neighborhood’s most treasured deli, coined “Jack’s Deli”, in the early 1970s. Day after day, Jack sliced meat, poured coffee, and crafted his famous 99 cent hoagies while joking around with his staff and the regulars who, no doubt, were regulars to hang around and laugh with Jack. Later, Jack, along with his best friend and brother-in-law, the late Mick Elliott, and their friend, the late Jerry Crane, joined forces to open the Chestnut Hill Market which they all remained loyal to for five years.

From 1965 to 1970, Jack and Joanne had three children who they raised in and around their dad’s deli. John, Sandi, and Kelli were well-known in the neighborhood and loved sneaking downstairs to take candy and ice cream as their dad was closing up shop for the evening. Whenever Jack had a free moment – which was rare – he enjoyed taking his family on cross-country road trips, playing golf with friends, fishing off the coast in Wildwood, and attending Super Bowl games.

In 2000, Jack retired from the food service industry to focus his attention on his now-large and ever-entertaining family. By that time, he was blessed with six of his eight grandchildren and his hands became full of smiling kids instead of hoagie rolls. Jack was at his all-time happiest when he sat around playing games that he himself invented for his grandchildren. When one grandchild would say, “Hi Grandpop,” he would not miss a beat and respond, “Hi Kidpop!” He was the life of the party, and his favorite people to entertain was his beloved family.

Throughout his 79 years, Jack’s sole priority was to make those around him smile, and he surely did just that. Instead of a funeral service, to honor and remember Jack H. Wilson, please live your life fulfilling your greatest passions, following through on your commitments, and beginning each day with the goal of making people smile…and if you have time, watch football and the ticker tape while chatting on Bass Barn, too.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com for the Wilson family.

Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service Southport, North Carolina.