Biography

Gene Wilson, 58, passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2010 in Sandpoint, Idaho. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 pm on Wednesday Feb. 10th at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Steve Nickodemus officiating.

Gene was born on December 3, 1951 in Hollister, CA to Norman and Barbara Wilson. Gene has been completely blind since age three, and he grew up and attended schools in San Jose and Gilroy, CA. He went on to earn a double major in Spanish and Music from Chico State University.

Gene started and operated, for 23 years, the Arizona Lookout Store, a gift and souvenir store over looking the Hover Dam. He married Kimberly Neu on September 21, 2002 in Bull River, MT, and the couple made their home in Henderson, NV. They later moved to North Idaho and settled in Sandpoint, where Gene operated a woodworking business hand crafting furniture, children’s toys, and other wood products.

Gene is a member of Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. He has a black belt in judo, enjoyed wood working, and loved his dog “Bear,” guide dog “Bebe,” and rescued thoroughbred horse “Fresco.”

He is survived at home by his wife Kim and son Dakota; he is also survived by a daughter Theresa (Jason) Van De Mark and granddaughter Serenity of Hazleton, PA; mother Barbara MacCarty of Carson City, NV; aunt and foster mom Ollie Mae Bernard of Porterville, CA; four brothers Ray and Bruce Wilson, Kevin Padillo, and David MacCarty; two sisters Candice Edwards and Susie Bargman; in-laws Larry and Colleen Neu, Cherise Neu (Eron Singleton), and Chris (Kate) Neu all of Sandpoint; grandparents Sam Wormington, Gerry and Joe Venishnick; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister Laura Wilson, father Norman B. Wilson, and niece Amber Wilson.

Memorial donations may be made to Bonner Community Hospice, PO Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID 83864; or Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., PO Box 3950,
San Rafael, CA 94912-3950

Please sign Gene's guest book.

Memorial Service

Wednesday February 10, 2010, 3:00 pm at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
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