JONES, Mich. -- A gathering of friends and family of Kenneth Wayne "Ken" Wilson will be from noon until 5 p.m. Saturday at the family home, 17103 Chapel Hill St., Union. Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, Ind., assisted with arrangements.

JONES, Mich. -- Kenneth Wayne "Ken" Wilson, 62, of Jones, died at 2 a.m. Thursday (May 14, 2009) in Elkhart (Ind.) General Hospital after a sudden illness.

He was born April 28, 1947, in Elkhart to Donald and Nadine (Hiatt) Wilson. On July 18, 1965, he married Anna May Tharp in Cassopolis.

She survives along with two sons, Dave Wilson of Edwardsburg and Duane (Lana) Wilson of Jones; one daughter, Kim (Rudy) Rodriguez of Jones; 11 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother, Don (Kim) Wilson of Edwardsburg; and two sisters, Barbara Burkey of Elkhart and Jan (Warren) Grey of Cassopolis.

Two brothers, Larry and David Wilson, preceded him in death.

As a youth Mr. Wilson farmed, but he went on to spend 37 years working in the maintenance departments at several Elkhart-area manufacturers. He was a member of the NRA and an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved antique cars and tractor pulls.

The family met privately at the funeral home prior to the cremation. A celebration of life will be at a later date. Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, assisted with arrangements.

Memorials may be given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 78960, Phoenix, AZ 85062-8960. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.