Pamela (Pam) Jean Wilson

Pamela (Pam) Jean Wilson

Cedar Rapids

Pamela (Pam) Jean Wilson, age 64, passed away at home with family and friends by her side. She fought a courageous battle with metastatic melanoma for many years.

Born and raised in the Iowa City, Iowa, area, she was the daughter of Eugene and Neva King. She attended elementary and middle school in Coralville and Iowa City, then graduated from high school in Solon, Iowa. While in high school and after graduation, she worked in the school office and at the Solon Care Center.

Following high school, she attended Kirkwood College and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During that time, she began working at Lefebure Corporation in Cedar Rapids. She later worked as a materials buyer at Rockwell Graphics, also in Cedar Rapids. Throughout her career, she built amazing friendships that lasted a lifetime.

In the early days of her career, Pam met a quiet and introverted young man referred to in Solon as the “sound man” and “nurse call guy,” whose mustache, mullet hairstyle, and tool belt had caught her attention. Within a few short years, Pam and Chuck Wilson were married on April 25, 1981, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton, Iowa. After more than a decade of traveling the world and building their careers, their son Austin completed their family in 1994.

Chuck, Pam, and Austin continued to travel and create lasting memories. Pam chose to retire early and become a stay-at-home mom, while also volunteering in the school office at Trinity Lutheran School. She later accepted a part-time position there and at Wholistic Wellness Clinic, once again forming lifelong friendships. Being a mom, however, was the thing she was best at—beyond anything else. From the moment Austin was born, she centered her entire world around him.

Pam was a funny, kind, generous, and giving person whose smile lit up every room. She displayed unwavering care for others and spent many days caring for elderly relatives. She was happiest when surrounded by her family and her extensive group of friends. Above all, she will be remembered as a fun-loving and free-spirited lady who was always on the go.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents and parents; her brothers-in-law Jim Wilson and Lyle Bolton; and many aunts and uncles. Pam is survived by her husband, Chuck; her son, Austin, and his fiancée, Emily Palmer; and her brothers, Steve and Terry King, and their families. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Jane King, Lou Ann King, Janice Ozias, Elaine Bolton, and Penny Wilson, along with their families.

Chuck and Austin wish to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate care teams at Hall-Perrine Cancer Center and Mercy Home Care and Hospice in Cedar Rapids; the experts at the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago; and the incredible staff at the Melanoma Treatment Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In addition, the kindness and support of her in-home care team of friends and family will never be forgotten. Your love and words touched them deeply.

Information about a celebration of her life will be shared in the coming days.