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Epilogue: Myron ‘Mike’ Wilson leaves legacy of philanthropy
Wilson and his late wife, Esther, shared millions with Corridor causes
CEDAR RAPIDS — One of Cedar Rapids’ most proliferate yet humble benefactors has died, but Myron “Mike” Wilson’s light, as well as that of his late wife, Esther, will shine on through the many causes to which they gave their time and financial resources.
Wilson died Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Cottage Grove Place, just six weeks shy of his 100th birthday.
One of his most recent acts of “sharing” — a term he preferred to “donating” — brought opera singers from around the country on Aug. 31 to the Paramount Theatre spotlight. Wilson’s gift of $100,000 to Cedar Rapids Opera established the Esther & Myron Wilson Vocal Competition, awarding prizes totaling more than $50,000 to the nine semifinalists among a field of 485 applicants from as far away as South Africa.
“He and Esther were bookends for this company,” said Daniel Kleinknecht, founder and artistic director of Cedar Rapids Opera.
Esther furiously sewed costumes for a 2001 production of “Rigoletto,” even sewing the female lead into her costume as Kleinknecht stepped into the orchestra pit at Theatre Cedar Rapids. “Afterward, she stared at me like, ‘What … are we doing?’ But you know, she stuck with the company. And that time when we had that $25,000 pesky deficit after the (2008) flood, Mike and Esther came and saved us. …
“At the end of his life, look what Mike did for us, giving us the possibility to give back to this great singer community of the world,” Kleinknecht said. “He opened his heart to the entire world to remember his wife through something that they really did care about. They were in everything we did. They were always there writing the biggest checks, always there at every performance, always giving us — and always giving me — encouragement. …
“They were solid people who cared about their community. They were our angels.”
Their largesse didn’t stop there. In a September 2023 interview, Wilson told The Gazette that he and his wife had shared between $5 and $6 million with area arts organizations, social services and outdoor recreation causes. That included a $1 million gift announced in July 2023 to help with extensive renovations at the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum in West Branch.
They were integral supporters of Orchestra Iowa, nature activities, Linn County Trails, and for Mike, Rockwell Collins Retirees, school science projects, the Arthur A. Collins Legacy Association and Eastern Iowa Honor Flights, traveling with his grandson, Sven Wilson, on May 1on the 50th flight, which was named in Mike’s honor. Wilson held various positions at Collins Radio and Rockwell International before retiring in 1990.
When The Gazette asked how he’d like to be remembered, Wilson shrugged his shoulders, laughed and said, “I don’t care.”
According to his obituary, a celebration of life will be held on his 100th birthday, Oct. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids. Memorials may be given to the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.
Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com
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