Erica Dawn Wilson

Erica Dawn Wilson Obituary Our beloved, Erica Dawn Wilson, age 41 of Manteno, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly at Carle Clinic in Champaign, Illinois from complications after surgery on January 19, 2023. Our hearts are broken, and we are devastated by this unexpected loss. Erica was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Bruce and Linda Wilson. We were attending a Wilson Family Reunion at a local park in Indianapolis, IN., on a beautiful sunny fall day. Erica decided to be born a month early and was delivered at IUPUI Hospital on September 28, 1981. Erica spent her growing up years in Bourbonnais, Illinois. She was an older sister to Renee Wilson Cole. Erica was a 1999, graduate of BBCHS in Bourbonnais, Illinois. During high school Erica was involved with swim team, girls’ basketball, band, a marine biology trip to the Florida Keys, and listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students. Erica attended Olivet Nazarene University and Culinary Arts School in Minnesota. She worked for Taylor-Brown dealership, My Sister’s Bakery, Concessionaire for Kankakee State Park riding stables, DaVita, Shelter Insurance (for her dad), and for the last 12 years for Cigna Health insurance. She was a member of Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene where she began attending as an infant. As she grew up in the church, she was involved in Bible quizzing, Sunday School, children and teen services, choir, volunteering in the nursery, caravans, church camp, and teen mission trips. Erica loved her family, friends, and dogs. Her children were the light of her life. As much as possible she would be at every event that her children were involved in. Erica was deeply loved by her family and by Brandon’s family. We feel so blessed to have spent so many wonderful times together, especially during the fall and Christmas Holidays. Erica would always help anyone who needed her. She put others before herself daily, never expecting anything in return. She had a servant’s heart. Erica poured such love into her cooking and baking, which her family and friends enjoyed. She began cooking at the early age of 4. Erica loved animals, especially dogs and horses. As a family she had a dog from the time she was born. Erica picked out her first dog at age 5. She loved all the dogs in her life. Erica began riding horses at the age of 6. This love led to taking riding lessons, adopting a retired harness horse when she was in high school. Then as an adult running the concession at the Kankakee State Park riding stables. Her dream was to have a small farm with a house and horses. Humane Society was an important organization to her. Erica was also an avid reader. She loved books, especially the classics. She shared that love of reading with her kids. We have many fun memories going to Barnes and Noble checking out their books and drinking a pumpkin spiced latte. Erica loved playing cards and board games. She shared that love with her family and friends. We have many wonderful memories of playing cards or games for hours. Erica enjoyed going camping and walking in the state park, especially in the fall. Going to concerts with Brandon, Abbi, and Damian was a great time to spend with her family. She had fun traveling with her kids. Erica was looking forward to traveling with them to visit family in a few months. She took pleasure in watching movies, especially the Disney movies or older classic movies. She began collecting Disney memorabilia as a young child and was still doing so. Going to Disney in Orlando as a child and then returning with her own children was a fond memory for her. God bestowed on her many gifts from being a loving and amazing mom, to being a wonderful and supportive aunt, to being able to speak Spanish, to baking, to reading, to cooking, to being a friend, and wanting to help others. Erica’s home was always open to family and friends. She took pleasure in being around her family as much as possible. Her legacy will carry on reminding us that we can choose a life of meaningful acts of love and service, like Christ modeled for us. Erica is survived and missed by her loving children, Damian and Abbigail Alsup; her parents, Bruce and Linda Wilson of Bradenton Florida; one sister, Renee Wilson Cole, of Bourbonnais, Illinois; her grandparent’s, Allen and Elizabeth Wilson of Bradenton Florida; her fiancée and life partner of 20 years, Brandon Alsup; Brandon’s mom, Barbara Alsup and his dad, Donald Alsup, of Bradley, IL., Brandon’s sister, Amy Sowa(Josh Cronch) of Kankakee, Illinois; plus several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her memory will be cherished and will live on in her nephews, Carson, Keegan, Brody, Deagan, Bentley, and Hurley. She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Martha and Homer Paschall; her uncle, Don Paschall; and her nephew, Jace Sowa. A visitation will take place on Saturday, January 28, from 2-8 pm., at Clancy -Gernon Funeral Home, 291 N. Main St., in Manteno, Illinois, 60950. A visitation and service will also take place on Sunday, January 29, at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene, with visitation starting at 1:30, and a service to follow at 2pm to celebrate Erica’s life, at 1000 N. Entrance Ave., Kankakee, IL. 60901. Donations may be made in her name to the following organizations: Kankakee Humane Foundation https://www.k3humanefoundation.org/index.php/how-you-can help/give and /or Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene children’s camp scholarship fund. https://k1naz.org/giving and/or Manteno Wildcats Football & Cheer.

Erica Dawn Wilson

September 28, 1981 - January 19, 2023