Wendell Eugene Wilson

Wilson, Wendell Eugene son of Eugenia (née Wein-brenner) and John Edgar Wilson, passed away peacefully at his home in Eden Prairie on July 3, 2014, at the age of 92. He was born on his grandfather's farm near La Hogue, Illinois on March 14, 1922. In 1925, he and his family resettled permanently in Minnesota. After regaining his strength from a multi-year battle with rheumatic fever he became an accomplished athlete and student, graduating from St. James High School in 1941. In the fall of that year he met Lorraine Haseman, and they dated for the next year, until World War II intervened. Wendell enlisted in the Service in August of 1942, and they married in 1943. He served first as a RADAR instructor, but in January of 1944, after making repeated requests to his commanding officer, he was assigned overseas duty with the 10th Army Air Force in the China-Burma-India theater. The members of his squadron, the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron, were all awarded the DUC (Distinguished Unit Citation for "extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy") not once but twice: first for the Burma operations in March through October of 1945, dropping Chinese paratroopers into battle, and second for transporting over 30,000 Chinese soldiers from Chihkiang into battle, flying back and forth over (through) the Himalayas, with Wendell acting as radar navigator. He was wounded in battle when Japanese commandoes attacked the ordnance depot at his air base, and for the rest of his life suffered knee pain and kidney damage from shrapnel. After the war, Wendell earned his engineering degree from the University of Minnesota where he studied physics under Robert Oppenheimer. After graduating he worked for various engineering firms in Minnesota and Indiana. In 1951 he became a pioneer in the computer field, working on some of the first highly classified computers for Engineering Research Associates, later renamed Univac Corporation after his management club. Around 1956 Wendell was offered a position with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as Director of Communications for the Mercury Program, but he declined because Lorraine did not want to leave Minnesota. He continued to work in the technology field for the rest of his career, especially computer technology and electrical, hydraulic and mechanical engineering. Over the years he was granted over 30 patents, and rose to the level of President and CEO of Computron Corporation, Minneapolis Scientific Controls Corporation, Simon Aerials Inc. and Simon Access Ltd. USA. Wendell was a kind, generous, wise, loving, courageous, supportive, highly intelligent, good-humored and devoted father, grandfather and husband. He was a true patriot of "the greatest generation," and a noble and highly ethical man of deep faith; he always did his utmost to help others. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Marilyn, (Lorraine having died in 1992 after nearly 50 years of marriage), sister Ardis (Conway) Schmitt in Colorado, his son, Wendell Jr. (Carolyn) in Tucson, his daughter, Debra Olson (Ken) in Plymouth, grandchildren Eric Wilson and Derek, Paige and Connor Olson, step-daughters Lori (Richard) Carlson and Sherri (William) Maloney, six step-grandchildren (Scott. Thomas, Kevin and Andrew Maloney and Jonathan and Eric Carlson), and nine step-great-grand-children. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 10, beginning with the visitation at 10 a.m., and service at 11 a.m. at Wooddale Church, 6630 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Internment will take place at Pleasant View Memorial Gardens, Burnsville. For more information contact Washburn-McReavy Eden Prairie Chapel, 952-975-0400. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society.

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Wendell Eugene Wilson

July 3, 2014

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