Tim Wilson laid to rest
COTTAGE GROVE - Friends, family and fellow firefighters fought back tears Saturday as they said goodbye to one of the department's finest - Tim Wilson. Wilson died December 30th from Lou Gehrig's Disease.
"Being on a fire, I would definitely trust him with my own life," said best friend and co-worker Tony Graves. "That's just the kind of guy he was."
They also rejoiced in the life he lived.
"His girls were everything," said friend Sheri Gates. "His family was everything to him and they always will be."
"He always had health food as lunch," said another friend. "And, he knew in my lunch pail was always an extra donut for him."
Friends said that love for his family and his faith spread beyond his house walls. He and his wife, Shelley, were also Sunday school teachers.
"Now, I always liked Tim like a second father," said one of his former students.
Riverside Community Church of God Pastor Jim Jenkins shared the story of Lazarus, a man who the Bible says loved God, but whose death came too soon, just like Tim's. Jenkins told mourners there is no fairness in Tim's death, but there's still hope.
"God himself was not exempt," said Jenkins. "Jesus offered no immunity, no way out of unfairness but rather a way through it to the other side."
As fellow firefighters watched on, Jenkins said one last prayer.
"I pray now for the comfort of the Holy Spirit for everyone in this room. We honor you and we even praise you at a time like this. We pray it in the matchless powerful name of your son, Jesus."
And Tim Wilson returned to quarters for final time.
Due to the length of Tim's illness, the family is struggling financially. Donations can be made at the Northwest Community Credit Union in Cottage Grove. Besides his girls, Rebecca and Alisha and his wife, Shelley, Tim also leaves behind his mother, Janet, brother, Todd, his beloved dogs and as evident Saturday, hundreds of friends.
"Being on a fire, I would definitely trust him with my own life," said best friend and co-worker Tony Graves. "That's just the kind of guy he was."
They also rejoiced in the life he lived.
"His girls were everything," said friend Sheri Gates. "His family was everything to him and they always will be."
"He always had health food as lunch," said another friend. "And, he knew in my lunch pail was always an extra donut for him."
Friends said that love for his family and his faith spread beyond his house walls. He and his wife, Shelley, were also Sunday school teachers.
"Now, I always liked Tim like a second father," said one of his former students.
Riverside Community Church of God Pastor Jim Jenkins shared the story of Lazarus, a man who the Bible says loved God, but whose death came too soon, just like Tim's. Jenkins told mourners there is no fairness in Tim's death, but there's still hope.
"God himself was not exempt," said Jenkins. "Jesus offered no immunity, no way out of unfairness but rather a way through it to the other side."
As fellow firefighters watched on, Jenkins said one last prayer.
"I pray now for the comfort of the Holy Spirit for everyone in this room. We honor you and we even praise you at a time like this. We pray it in the matchless powerful name of your son, Jesus."
And Tim Wilson returned to quarters for final time.
Due to the length of Tim's illness, the family is struggling financially. Donations can be made at the Northwest Community Credit Union in Cottage Grove. Besides his girls, Rebecca and Alisha and his wife, Shelley, Tim also leaves behind his mother, Janet, brother, Todd, his beloved dogs and as evident Saturday, hundreds of friends.
