Obituaries

Paul William Wilson, age 84, of Hessel, Michigan, died at the Hospice House of the EUP on November 12, 2023. He was born on November 15, 1938, in Flint, Michigan, to Guy and Marjorie (Wascher) Wilson.

Paul graduated from Central Michigan University with the class of 1961, with a bachelor’s in mathematics. He met Moira Dibert, and they married on August 12, 1961. In 1963, he earned his master’s in mathematics and worked as a professor of mathematics at Lake Superior State University for 37 years, before retiring in 2000.

Paul earned the Distinguished Teacher award, at Lake Superior State University in 1983, the Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year award, along with his wife, Moira, in 2002, and the Michigan Heritage Award for Traditional Boat Building in 2016. He also earned multiple model boat building awards from 2006 to 2022, featuring the “Best of Show”, multiple gold, silver, and bronze awards for his many Lake Superior boats and historical models from the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Paul was a founder and member of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Arts Council, the Great Lakes Boat Building School, the Les Cheneaux Historical Association and Maritime Museum, the Nautical Research Guild, the Model Shipwrights of Niagara, and a Central Michigan University Alumni.

Paul was a skilled artisan and craftsman. His pottery was featured in the Sault Summer Arts Festival show for many years. He had a love of nautical research and wooden boats, building many full size and model wooden boats while in the Les Cheneaux area.

Paul is survived by his wife, Moira; son, Brian Wilson of Marietta, Georgia; daughter, Wendy Barba (Wilson) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; daughter-in-law, Versa Wilson (Bujold) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; grandchildren, Jeff Wilson of Sault Ste. Marie, Kevin Wilson of Sault Ste. Marie, Marcela Barba of New York, Stefany Barba of Los Angeles, California, and Finn Wilson of Marietta, Georgia; Jonathan Bujold of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; Rachelle McGrath (Bujold) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; great grandchildren, Colton Wilson of Sault Ste. Marie, and Lincoln McGrath of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; and brother, Ron Wilson of Hawaii.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Marjorie; and eldest son, David Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations out to the Les Cheneaux Historical Association and Maritime Museum, P.O. Box 301, Cedarville, MI 49719, the Hessel School House, P.O. Box 25, Hessel, MI 49745, or the Hospice of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.