Gary Lee Wilson

Gary Lee Wilson, 86, of Leslie, Michigan, passed away on July 15, 2026, while caring for the beautiful property that he and his beloved wife, Ginny, had lovingly created together over three decades. Born on October 13, 1939, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan, Gary was the son of Doris Alice Thrasher and Dale Henry Anway. At the age of eighteen, he was lovingly adopted by his stepfather, Fred L. Wilson, whose name Gary proudly carried for the remainder of his life.

Raised in Lansing, Gary's childhood was humble and shaped by perseverance, resilience, and an appreciation for life's simple blessings. Perhaps because he understood what it meant to grow up with very little, Gary was determined that his children and grandchildren would never question how deeply they were loved. He attended Eastern High School and in 1957, while “cruising the gut" in downtown Lansing, Gary met the love of his life, Virginia Mary "Ginny" Schultz. What began as a chance encounter became one of the great partnerships of a lifetime. They were married on August 1, 1958, at Christ Lutheran Church in Lansing, where Gary was also baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. Together they shared nearly sixty-eight years of unwavering love, loyalty, laughter, and partnership.

Their marriage was grounded in love, mutual respect, enduring commitment, and a quiet faith in God that sustained them throughout every season of life. While Gary and Ginny experienced profound heartbreak through the loss of several children during their lives, their faith in God, their unwavering devotion to one another, and the love of their family carried them through life's greatest joys and deepest sorrows. Through every blessing and every trial, they faced life's hand in hand.