Visitation will be 4:00pm to 7:00pm Monday August 19, 2024 at the Runge Mortuary, Davenport, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00am Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church Bettendorf, IA. Cremation will follow with burial at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Rock Island/ Milan Educational Foundation or St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Please share condolences at www.rungemortuary.com.
Sam was born March 20, 1940 in Rock Island, IL to Herbert & Althea (Marshall) Wilson. He was a proud graduate of Rock Island High School and Augustana College. Sam’s first marriage was to Beverly Ellison in 1960. In 1994 he married Mary Watson at the Ascension Chapel, Augustana College.
While in college Sam worked as a sports writer covering Augustana sports for the former Morning Democrat, now QC Times. In 1964 he became a reporter for the Moline Dispatch prior to starting a 50 year career with Iowa Illinois Gas & Electric, now MidAmerican Energy retiring as the Director of Corporate Communications in 1994. Sam ultimately retired in 2014 as MidAmerican’s Chief Lobbyist, Government Affairs.
Sam was very active in the community serving 8 years on the Rock Island School board, the RI Botanical Center, RI Optimist Club, and the IL Chamber of Commerce.
Sam was a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Bettendorf, the RI Arsenal Golf Club, Davenport Country Club, and Davenport Gyros Club. He enjoyed golf, talking, boating, reading (especially about WWII), he was an avid Yankees, Hawkeye, and Rock Island Rocks sports fan. He was endlessly curious about people and never met a stranger.
Survivors include his wife Mary Wilson; 8 Children Kristine Wilson Plano, TX, Tom (Ann) Wilson, Wylie, TX, Lynda (Ken) Sangston, Plano, TX, James Watson, Davenport, IA, Joe Watson, Davenport, IA, Julie (Pete) Lelonek, Ankeny, IA, Teresa (Mike) Lund, Omaha, NE, Dianne (Rich) Bak, Omaha, NE; 10 grandchildren Aaron Wilson, Abby Griffin, Brianna Freeman, Austin Lelonek, Alex Lelonek, Lauren Lund, Nicole Lund, Madelyn Lund, Tyler Bak and Samantha Bak; 4 great grandchildren; Siblings - Nancy (Jack) Schick and Steve Wilson.
Family would like to express sincere gratitude to the staff at Bickford Cottage & St. Croix Hospice.
