John Carl Wilson, Jr.

John Carl Wilson, Jr., 96, died Friday, December 1, 2017. He was born in Chicago, IL on April 30, 1921. He spent his early life there, then in South Bend, IN and Grand Junction, CO. His family moved to Wichita, KS in 1940. He attended Wichita East Vocational School, graduation in May 1940. In July of that year, he was hired at Beechcraft as a clerk in the planning department, and then did a tour in the Navy during WWII. After moving to engineering, John became manager of the Commercial and Military Engineering Division at Beechcraft and Raytheon Corp. where worked until retirement in 1986. He married Phyllis Haag on June 12, 1943 in St. Joseph Church, Olpe, KS. Preceded in death by his parents, John and Jewel Wilson; brother, Jean; son, Mark A. (and wife, Angel). Survived by his wife, Phyllis Haag Wilson; daughter, Sister Marsha Wilson, ASC; sons, Philip (Linda), Brian, and Patrick; grandchildren, Luci Florey (Jeff), Josh (Amy), John, Sam, and Evan Wilson; great-grandchildren, Landon, Lili, and Lena Wilson; and by Sister Deborah Schovanec, ASC, Johns unofficially adopted daughter. He enjoyed competition shooting sports, upland bird hunting, and family gatherings at Lake of the Ozarks and Summit County, CO. John and Phyllis were charter members of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Rosary will be at 6:00 pm, Sunday, December 3, 2017; Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Monday, December 4, 2017, both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1321 N. Stratford, Wichita, KS 67206. His sense of humor, his subtle smile, and his love of family and friends will be with us forever. Downing & Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.