DENNIS WAYNE WILSON

LIBERAL- Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Verdella Free Will Baptist Church in Liberal for Dennis Wayne Wilson, 77, Liberal, who died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin. Burial will follow at Barton City Cemetery in Liberal.

A visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday evening, at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar.

Contributions are suggested in lieu of flowers and may be made payable to the Barton County 4H, Peterson Outdoor Ministries for injured and recovering veterans or The Hanna Project, a humanitarian organization of the Free Will Baptist, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include his wife Joan; one son, Derrek Wilson and Marjan Dallali, Montreal, Canada; two daughters, Karrie Adams-Buoy, Waldorf, MD and Jeanette Turley and husband Clayton, Rogers, Ark.; eight grandchildren, Robyn Adams, Jackson Adams, Kaelyn Buoy, Logan Buoy, Eryn Buoy, Camryn Buoy, Lauren Turley and Morgan Turley; one brother, Ralph Wilson and wife Lynda, Odessa; two sisters, Carolyn Hurt, Riverside and Debbie Turner and husband Brian, Holden.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Tracie Wilson; two brothers, Mark Wilson and John Wilson and one sister, Marilyn Armstrong.

Mr. Wilson was born Aug. 11, 1946, in Marion, Kan., to Jack Alva Wilson and Irene Rose (Hajek) Wilson. He married Joan Marie Tippett on April 19, 1980, in Fayette.

He served in the US Navy until honorably discharged as a QM3. During his time in the Navy he served two tours in Vietnam on the USS Cabildo. He then worked for Southwestern Bell in Kansas City, Mo., before moving to Barton County in 1979 where he began crop farming and raising cattle in Verdella. In 1986 he was elected as the District One Barton County Commissioner where he would serve for the next 30 years. He served on the Barton County Mutual Insurance board since 1995 and was chairman since 2007. He was a member of the Verdella Free Will Baptist Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Cattleman's Association and volunteered with the Barton County 4H and Liberal Rec.

In his free time, he enjoyed fishing the pond, making cinnamon rolls, working cattle, model railroading and helping neighbors in the community. He enjoyed cookouts at the pond, telling stories and projects with his family. He was always proud to serve as the flag bearer in the Liberal parade and Veteran's Day program. He loved being one of Santa's helpers.