Donald C. Wilson

Donald Charles Wilson found eternal rest on December 16, 2023. Don was born on January 3, 1955 to Ralph and Norma (Mangus) Wilson in LaPorte, IN. Don attended John Glenn High School and was a lifelong Walkerton resident. Don is survived by his wife of 13 years, Sue (Lopez) Wilson. He is also survived by his two daughters, Tara (David) Vermillion and Jessica (Daniel) Chamberlin, both of Walkerton. He was proud to have maintained a lifelong friendship and love for their mother and his first wife, Bonnie (Walter) Quinto. Together with Suzie, he expanded his family and added two daughters Tina (Gary) Babcock, of Grovertown, and Erica Santiago, of Indianapolis. Don is also survived by the loves of his life, his 15 grandchildren. Papa loved to watch each of them in various sports and activities and prided himself on his large, loving, blended family. Don is survived by five siblings: three sisters Barbara Wilson-Steiner, Linda (David) Crum and Deborah (Everette/deceased) Wallace and two brothers Robert (Sherri) Wilson and William (Melody) Wilson and multiple nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by both of his parents, Ralph and Norma Wilson and a brother-in-law, Everette Wallace. Don was an avid Notre Dame fan, begrudgingly adding Purdue and IU to his list as his grandchildren attended the universities. Don’s love of sports touched every aspect of his life. Whether on the field himself or coaching on the sidelines, Don’s passion for volleyball, basketball, and baseball transitioned into friendships and relationships that to him, were irreplaceable. He was always up for competition and wasn’t shy about his passion for winning. Later in life, his love of sports flowed seamlessly to his grandchildren. One thing you could count on was Papa being in the stands. No soccer game was complete without hearing Don’s trusted advice to simply “Go middle!” Second only to watching his grandchildren compete was his love of fishing. Don loved teaching his grandchildren to fish and spent countless hours waiting for the perfect bite. Whether on the lake, the pier, or his beloved pond, fish feared him and grandchildren begged him to help get their lines out of the trees. Don loved camping with his family and spending time outdoors. Dad was the epitome of unwavering love and unconditional support. The friendship he had with each of us will be unmatched in all our lives. His loyalty ran deep and he was 100% devoted to his family. He was a quiet, unassuming leader for our family with his calm, patient, and quick to forgive heart. He was the biggest fan, not of our sport performance, but of each of us as a person. We always knew he was there and he always was. No matter what. A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM EST Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at the Rannells Funeral Home, Koontz Lake Chapel. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 7:00 PM EST on Wednesday, January 3, also at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Dunes Hospice of Porter County. To leave online condolences, please visit rannellsfuneralhome.com.

Donald C. Wilson

January 3, 1955 - December 16, 2023