Obituary of David Helman Wilson

David Helman Wilson, 1937-2017

Still active in mind and spirit—but, as he liked to say,  “with a body well beyond it’s best-before-date,”—David H. Wilson passed away peacefully on August 13, 2017.

Dave was born in Kirkland Lake Ontario on June 23, 1937, to Helman and Sally Wilson (née Neminen.) He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marg Stevens Wilson; their three children: Alexandra (Evie Mandel), Steven (Sylvie Latulippe Wilson) and Carroll (Sylvain d’Auteuil-Robillard); five grandchildren (Joshua, Emily, Abegayle, William and Maya); sister Stellina Bourke (Wayne MacAlpine); sisters-in-law Patricia Ballantyne and Nancy Stevens; nieces Kristin Robin,  Christine and Leslie, Heather and Maggie and nephews Scott, Rob and David.

Dave worked for seven years after completing secondary school, before enrolling in university. He earned degrees from Waterloo (B. Sc. Mechanical Engineering, 1966) and McGill (M. Eng Mining, 1968). During this time he married Margaret Stevens and started their family.  Dave then established himself in the mining industry by managing a group of gold mines in the Timmins area for the Noranda Group. While in Timmins, he was a three-time elected member of the Board of Education. Dave then transferred to the manufacturing side of the Noranda Group, to Wire Rope Industries (Montreal). He was successful in building that company through a business strategy of expansion through acquisition. Later, he moved on to a third career, completing a CFP designation in personal financial planning and established himself with the franchise company Money Concepts (Guelph.)

He was a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario; Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy; Industrial Advisory Committee  to the University of Waterloo (past Chairman); The Sandford Fleming Engineering Foundation Committee.

Dave played intercollegiate hockey with the University of Waterloo, earning his W letter in sports. He was an avid competitive squash player for many years. He very much enjoyed the opportunity to travel internationally through his business interests, and was proud of the opportunity to act as a distinguished lecturer with the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. During retirement, Dave enjoyed some success as a stone carver and continued to take great pleasure in actively following up on and managing his business and investment interests.

Dave credited Margaret for much of his success through her support and love, and considered her, in his words “the love of his life.” He loved his children and grandchildren dearly and was open about how proud he was of each of them.

Dave was a strong supporter of the work done by the Canadian Grandmothers for Africa, and actively supported Marg in her work and outreach with the organization.

At Dave’s request there will be no funeral. A memorial service and interment at the family plot in Campbellford will take place at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, your kind thoughts and a donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers Group (www.grandmotherscampaign.org) would be appreciated by Dave and his entire family.