Wilma Jane “Winnie” (Cowan) Wesley of Chesaning, age 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 22, 2018. She met the love of her life, Fred, and was married for 64 years. Their journey through life was a special one with four sons, four daughters-in-law, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Unconditional love for her family is the legacy she left behind. She fed their bodies with her amazing cooking and baking in which she took great pride. She nurtured their hearts and souls with a most profound faith.
She was the most wonderful example of a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. Wilma had an exceptional life focused on her husband, her family, her friends and her church. Her passion for sewing and knitting was her tool for spreading love and comfort for anyone in need.
Once she met you, you became family. She loved to attend every event of her children, grandchildren or extended family. She was a proud lifelong member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, growing up across the street and changing homes to continue to be close by when the church relocated.
Her focus was to participate in every aspects of the church, serving on various committees, boards and overseeing Showboat dinners and funeral lunches for as long as we can remember. She was instrumental in establishing the Good Shepherd program, active with the BeFriender Ministry and the Ladies Society, and spent many hours and res on the Chesaning Area Food Bank. If the church had a need, she found a way to meet it.
She worked as a cook in the Chesaning School system for over thirty years. Over the years, she made cakes and pastries of every type for every conceivable event. She loved making wedding cakes for family and friends.
Wilma Jane Cowan was born in Owosso on January 16, 1932, the daughter of the late Charles and Lillian (Phillips) Cowan. She grew up in a busy home with eight siblings. One of her proudest moments was performing as a majorette during high school at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Those left to cherish her memory include her beloved husband of over 63 years, Fred; their four sons, William (Linda) Wesley of East Lansing, Richard (Patricia) Wesley of Hudsonville, James (Lisa) Wesley of Lake Orion, and Jeffery (Jody) Wesley of Okemos; her loving nine grandchildren, Megan (Matt) Brickner, Lauren (Brian) Lund, Charles(Rachel) Wesley, Caroline Wesley, Kyle Wesley, Alyssa Wesley, Connor Wesley, Emily Wesley, and Erin Wesley; four special great-grandchildren, Emmett and Anna Brickner, Alyse and Jase Lund, and with a fifth one on the way; two sisters, Kathleen Shooltz of Oxford and Alice Alderson of Rochester; brother-in-law, Joseph Wesley; sister-in-law, Marge Cowan; many nieces and nephews; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, William Cowan, Janette Wyatt, Jean Cowan, Stan Cowan, Brub Cowan, and Rev. Charlotte Cowan.
Rev. Timothy Woycik will officiate at her funeral services that are to be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2018, at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 1629 W. Brady Road (M-57), Chesaning. Burial will follow at Wildwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the Misiuk Funeral Home of Chesaning from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday. Her family will be present at the church to greet relatives and friends from 10:00 a.m. Saturday until time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Charitable donations given in memory of Winnie may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Memorial Fund. You may light a memorial candle or leave a condolence on her obituary page at misiukfuneralhome.com.
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