Peepaw ‘ Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle
Dracut
John J. Wilson, 76, of Dracut, MA, passed peacefully on December 24, 2024 surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of Carol, the love of his life, for over 52 years.
John was a master storyteller, and all who knew him were familiar with his vivid, detailed, and often hilarious anecdotes. John’s earliest stories were of his childhood adventures in the Pawtucketville section of Lowell. He fondly reminisced about pick-up baseball at the corner park, fishing at ‘the chain’, sledding down Crawford Street, marathon games of ‘Risk’, and playing outside until called home at dark. He spoke proudly of his first job, his paper route, which allowed him to buy treats for himself and his family, including breakfasts at Vic’s.
John enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 14, 1967. He served his country for three years advancing to the rank of SP5 with the specialty of cook. He served in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Bronze Star Medal. Part of John’s last year of service was in Hawaii, the origin of some of his favorite stories from that time in his life.
John worked for the City of Lowell’s Department of Public Works ‘ Street Department for nearly forty years. He enjoyed sharing many tales of snowplowing adventures, paving the city streets, working with his favorite day crew, and driving through Lowell at night to perform various jobs after dark as a night watchman.
Above all, John, aka, ‘Peepaw’, a sweet name gifted to him by his first grandchild, was a family man at heart. He prioritized time with family and cherished friends. He valued family dinners and always looked forward to family vacations in Maine, where he would sit for long hours gazing at the ocean or searching for loons on a beautiful mountainside lake, while telling his many wonderful stories. Game times were Peepaw’s favorites, especially playing games with his children, niece, nephew, and grandchildren. He delighted in sharing a meal with dear friends and then playing Yahtzee, Three Crowns, and many other games for hours after. In his downtime you could find him in his favorite recliner watching football, westerns, and classic TV and movies.
John was predeceased by his dear mother, ‘Memère’ Doris (Durand) Wilson; his brother Robert Wilson; Aunt Evelyn and Uncle George Pihl and his beloved in-laws; Leo and Lauretta (Roy) Cognac.
He is survived by his wife Carol (Cognac) Wilson; his daughter Jessica Wilson and her husband Peter Moore, daughter Beth Wilson-Lampro and her husband Erick Lampro; grandchildren Ryan Wilson, Evelyn Lampro, and River Moore; sister Jeanne D. Wilson; sister-in-law Pauline A. Carroll and her husband Charles F. Carroll; nephew Ian Wilson; niece Christina Carroll and her husband Joshua Rogaczewski; and great-nephews Liam Wilson and Patrick Carroll-Rogaczewski. Several cousins including Father George Roy, O.M.I. Also, very dear friends Louise and Paul Roth, Solange Paquet, Linda Welch and the Paquet ‘ Jussaume family.
The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses and medical personnel at Lowell General Hospital Saints Campus who were concerned, kind, and respectful to John and supportive of our family during his last weeks and days.
There will be no calling hours. A Mass of celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 10am at Sainte Marguerite d’Youville Church, 1340 Lakeview Avenue, DRACUT. Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, CHELMSFORD.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mill City Grows at millcitygrows.org.
Funeral Directors Paul A. Hardy, Jr. & Jennifer Lebaropoulos Hardy. For directions and online guestbook, visit DRACUTFUNERALHOME.COM and find us on Facebook.
Author: gqlshare
https://www.lowellsun.com/obituaries/john-j-wilson-dracut-ma/