In Loving Memory of Gary Clifford Wilson 

December 30, 1947 – April 4, 2026 

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Gary Clifford Wilson on April 4, 2026, at Nipissing Serenity Hospice, in his 79th year. A devoted husband of 54 years to Jan and a loving dad to Shellbie and Melissa (Mike). Gary held a special place in his heart for his family. He will be lovingly remembered by his grand-daughter, Liberty (Richard), and his great-granddaughter, Violet. He was predeceased by his cherished grandson, Zayd, and is fondly remembered by Zayd’s partner, Lily. 

Gary leaves behind his brother Dave (Nancy) and sisters, Carol (Bob) and Kathy (Tom) and sisters-in-law Nancy (Geoff) and Dianne (Terry). He was predeceased by his beloved mother Marion and brothers Bob (Sandra) and Greg (Christine). He is also remembered by his late father Clifford’s children, Traci and Mark.  

A man of strong faith, Gary was a long‑serving member of South Shore Evangelical Missionary Church, the place where he and Jan were married and where he came to know the Lord. Always one to love a project and keep busy, Gary approached every challenge with thoughtful precision and practical insight, whether working alongside long‑time friends and community members to remodel and expand the church he cherished or tackling the many building projects at home. A dedicated mechanical engineer with a specialty in designing emulsion plants for the mining industry, his work took him to remarkable places around the world, including Portugal, Siberia, Russia, Mozambique, Nepal, India and Uzbekistan. He also treasured travels with his family and, in retirement, journeys to Florida, Arizona, Australia, Greece and England.  

Gary loved living on the south shore of Lake Nipissing and enjoyed building and flying model airplanes, boating, creating stained glass and gardening. In his younger years, he and Jan enjoyed diving, exploring shipwrecks in Tobermory and later snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. He was also an avid reader with a lifelong curiosity about aviation and space, from visiting Cape Canaveral in the 1980s to witness the shuttle launch, to watching the Artemis II mission to the moon in his final days. He also cherished his nephews and nieces and their families, delighting in offering building advice, lending tools or equipment, or encouraging their projects whenever he could. He was a devoted “Papa” to his beloved dog, Wicket, a loyal companion who brought joy and comfort into his life. 

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at North Bay Regional Health Centre, especially Dr. Jinnah, whose compassion, expertise, and guidance helped us navigate Gary’s cancer journey with dignity and understanding. We are also deeply thankful to the incredible team at Nipissing Serenity Hospice for their kindness, attentive care, and comfort through his final days. 

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at South Shore Evangelical Missionary Church. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2:00 p.m., with refreshments to be served afterward. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Terry Fox Foundation in support of cancer research at terryfox.org.