Rev. Kerry J. Wilson, age 73, entered peacefully and joyfully into the loving, presence of Jesus on Saturday, October 3, 2026 after many weeks of wrestling with progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Kerry was born on July 9, 1953, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander WI, the only child of Ora M and Dorothy (Streckert) Wilson. He grew up in Crandon, WI. He was active in Little League, Boy Scouts, school sports and school band. He enjoyed countless hours helping at his dad's Mobilgas Service Station.

Kerry began college the Fall of 1971 at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and was overwhelmed with homesickness. Out of sheer desperation he finally turned the control of his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Pressures, challenges, and setbacks continued for several years, but all the while, he forged ahead to achieve good grades, get active in the Student Senate, and become involved in Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.

While home on spring break near the end of his senior year, he was totally surprised to be offered the position of "summer assistant pastor" at his own St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Crandon. He politely declined, confident that he would receive at least one job offer upon returning to school. However, he was met with three turn-downs, and therefore called the head pastor back and said, "I need a summer job." So after three months of preaching, leading youth activities, doing Bible studies, and shadowing the senior pastor, Kerry knew that he was being called by God to be a full-time ordained pastor.

Kerry needed a break from school, so at the end of summer, he took a job as the auto-bank supervisor at First National Bank, Stevens Point for two years. During that time a college acquaintance became his girlfriend, the love of his life, and then his wife of 50 years.

Kerry James Wilson and Susan Jane Clark became united in marriage at Stevens Point Assembly of God on September 11, 1976. They worked at Asbury Acres Church Camp the next summer, and Kerry enrolled at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in August of 1977. During that time he was also student pastor at Mundelein United Methodist Church. Kerry graduated from seminary in June of 1980 and began forty years as a full-time ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church. He served six different appointments: Turtle Lake; Honey Creek and Denzer, rural Prairie du Sac; Marshfield-Zion; Fountain Park Church in Sheboygan; Lomira; and Pardeeville.

In addition to pastoring local churches, Kerry was involved in ministry throughout the state of Wisconsin, authoring and directing the Elementary Alive-Bible Bowl Camp for many summers. He and his wife Sue co-directed many Elementary Alive Camps, ministering together. They also over the years hosted and participated in many Holy Spirit Renewal weekends such as "Life in the Spirit Seminars" and "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" through Aldersgate Renewal Ministries.

Retiring as a full-time pastor in 2020 and returning to Marshfield, Kerry continued to serve in ministry as a Marshfield Police Department Chaplain, Civil Air Patrol Chaplain for the state of Wisconsin, part-time pastor at Faith Journey Church in Spencer, a member of the National Steering Committee for Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries, and a member of the Advisory Council of Aldersgate Renewal Ministries. In retirement Kerry has continued to serve as an ordained minister in the newly established Global Methodist Church.

Kerry is survived by his wife Susan; his daughter Kristy and her husband Christopher Fredrick, along with their son Keegan and daughter Kaylee; his son Kevin and wife Whitley and their two daughters Eleanor and Carena; his daughter Gloria Joy and her significant other Brian Wagner and their dog Scout.

A funeral for Kerry is scheduled for 11am on Thursday, October 8th at Zion Community Church in Marshfield with Pastors Nate Cravillion and Jan Fischer officiating. Burial will follow at McMillan Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family welcomes relatives and friends for visitations 4-8pm Wednesday at the Rembs Funeral Home in Marshfield, and from 9am until time of service at church.

Memorial Gifts can be designated to Zion Community Church or Aldersgate Renewal Ministries.