ERLE WILSON
July 7th, 1925 – January 24th, 2021
With great sadness, the family announces that Erle Wilson passed away peacefully at West Park Crossing Retirement Community in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan due to natural causes on Sunday, January 24th, 2021. He was 95 years young and is now together with his wife Dot. He led a wonderful, rich and full life with much love and family.
Erle grew up in Central Butte, SK where he and Ron helped with their Dad’s International Harvester and GM dealerships, running the grain elevator and working on the farm. Many stories can be told of their exploits! Erle married Dot and moved to Arborfield, SK where Judy and Bruce were born. There, he had a Garage and International Harvester dealership with a partner. They moved to Estevan, SK where Erle became an Instrument Technician for SaskPower. He was a trustee on the School Board for several years. Erle was a Mr. Fix It. He was always working on cars. He built his own water softener and repaired so many things. Erle loved to camp and fish. When the tent wasn’t doing the job, he built it onto a trailer to make a tent trailer. Then they had a truck camper with a folding top – he loved unique stuff. They then got a fifth wheel trailer and Erle converted a Dodge Maxi-van to a truck to pull it. They really enjoyed the time with family and friends, camping or visiting. Erle had a love of flying. He, Trevor Dean, Norm Kerr and Bruce bought an antique 1947 Taylorcraft and learned to fly in it. Erle and Bert Hamilton built their Thorpe T18 airplanes. About 5 years before retiring, Erle took a role as a Trainer for SaskPower out of Regina, SK then he and Dot moved to Moose Jaw. He took up golfing and curling, and really enjoyed all the friends. He was active in the United Church. When he sold his plane, Erle took up building and flying Remote Controlled Airplanes and Helicopters, making more good friends. He always had a project or something on the go. He made 3 Mazda RX7’s out of 4 wrecks. He went back to work at SIAST helping in the Instrumentation labs for a while. Erle liked doing jigsaw puzzles and usually had one on the go, even up until last week.
Erle had a special relationship and many great memories with each of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He made the time and effort to be a big part of their lives and they loved him!
Erle made friends wherever he went and maintained those connections throughout his life. He was always there to help whenever needed.
He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy (Dot, née: King); parents, Charlie and Ida Wilson; sister, Dorothy Ladner; 1 baby sister and 2 baby brothers. Erle is survived by his brother, Ron Wilson (Christel) of Parksville, BC; daughter, Judy Yathon (Tony) of Calgary, AB; son, Bruce (Lorrette) of Calgary, AB; grandchildren: Jeff Yathon (Carla), Evan Yathon (Morgan), Adam Wilson (Teresa), Michelle Brassard (Jeff), and Matt Wilson (Carley); and 8½ great-grandchildren: Oscar, ½, Ruby, Miles, Katya, Pascal, Remy, Brielle, and Monica.
The family would like to express their appreciation for the care and the caring by all the staff at West Park Crossing. It made Erle’s life and his family’s lives much better. The family would also like to thank Dr. A.J. VanHeerden and Dr. Waldner for their excellent care and their compassion.
A Celebration of Erle’s Life will be held on Saturday, September 18th, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in Moose Jaw Funeral Home. Reverend Tim Ellis will officiate and a private family interment will take place at Central Butte Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Erle’s name may be made to one of his favorite charities: Sask Abilities Council, 2122 Broad St, Regina, SK S4P 1Y5 or to a charity of one’s choice.
We will miss him greatly!
Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550
Erle was a very active 95 year old and was always doing something. Remember the good times and He will always be with you. He use to take Helen and myself to bus trips and pick us up when we got back. Was very informative and interesting to talk with and up to date with most things going on around him. Thoughts and prays for all of you at this time of sorrow. He will be at peace with Dot now.
Judy and Bruce and families: So sorry to hear of the passing of your Dad and Grandpa! He has touched many lives. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time
A long life well lived! He will be missed by all who knew him and loved him. So much fun and that one of a kind laugh. Hugs to Bruce and Judy and your families. Speak of him often and keep all the happy memories alive. Love, Wanda and all the rest of us Kings.
Erhle was a shining light in many of our lives. Not having much extended family in Canada the Wilsons took us on as family and we have many many wonderful memories together. They took me in to stay with them when I was one as my mom had a family emergency back in Wales. When I moved to Moose Jaw to work at age 21 and knew no one, Dot ane Ehrle were my safety net. We shared many many delicious meals together. That is when my love of all things oat bran began.
Thank you Ehrle! May you and Dot be having a great time with Mom and Dad.
To Judy and Bruce..BIG HUGS!
So sorry to hear of Erle’s passing, however, I am, happy to hear that he was still interested in puzzles etc.
This darn COVID,…Prevented me from going to see him.. He always gave me a hug.
You have lots of memories to share.
Erle was foreman at the Instrument shop at Boundary Dam where I worked for more than 10 years. A great person to work for, and very knowledgeable about a lot of things. Lots of good memories. My thoughts and prayers to Judy and Bruce and families.
Erle was such a gentle man. So glad to have known him.
Echoing Barry Dies’ good thoughts about Erle in the Instrumentation Dept. at Boundary Dam Power Station. Erle had a lot to do with my early years at SaskPower. Erle was just a good guy, at work or at play. Our condolences to the Wilson Families.
I had the good fortune to work with Erle during my early years at Boundary Dam Power Station. I remember it took me a while to connect that Erle was Bruce’s father, and I knew Bruce from my university days at U of S in Saskatoon. My condolences to Bruce and all the Wilson family. RIP Erle!
A good man has left us! Wonderful neighbor to us when we were both new residents at Park Avenue. His smile always greeted you. Rest in peace Erle. Our condolences to you Judy, Bruce & families. Your frequent visits to care for your dad, Judy, did not go unnoticed.
Erle and I enjoyed an excellent working relationship, while at SaskPower; so much so, that we decided to extend this relationship to building identical aeroplanes together. Thanks to Erle, I have enjoyed many years of recreational fly. My condolences to Judy, Bruce and their families
I knew Erle first as a young guy in operations at Boundary Dam. While in the later days of his training role he called me and told me I should think about a training job in management that had recently been posted. His advice and freely shared wisdom changed the course of my career and I am so grateful that God put Erle in my life and for Erle’s life well lived! My sincere condolences to you, his family, friends and fellow coworkers;
and I pray that God peace may comfort you as you grieve Erle’s passing.
Brother Earle, we have to many good memories of times we spend together as little kids to grown up years.
From working on cars, doing some farming together & later on golfing & visits to Central Bute.
Of course we cannot forget your & Dots visit to B.C. & ours to Moose Jaw.
Rest In Peace and we will meet again.
Uncle Erle was loved and respected by all of us. We looked forward to and enjoyed any time that we spent with him and Auntie Dot and their family. It always amused us to hear about the fun adventures they had with our parents (Herman and Reta). We were so lucky to have them all! Uncle Erle we miss you.