Myron “Mike” Wilson

Myron “Mike” Wilson

Cedar Rapids

Myron “Mike” Wilson passed away peacefully at home at Cottage Grove Place on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the age of 99.

Mike was born October 18, 1924, to M. Frank and Mae Wilson in Cleveland, Ohio, joining a sister Doris and two half-sisters, Gladys and Mildred.

Mike served twenty-two months in the U.S. Navy as a radio technician during World War II. He then earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Engineering Administration at Case Western Reserve University.

Mike married Esther Secor on August 5, 1950. They moved to Cedar Rapids in February 1951 after he was hired by Arthur Collins to work for Collins Radio. He has been a longtime member of First Congregational Church.

Mike held management positions in Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality for Collins Radio and Rockwell International in Cedar Rapids and Dallas, Texas. He was named a fellow in the American Society of Quality Control (ASQC), Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He helped form the Iowa Quality Center and was recognized at the White House for his role as a senior examiner for the U.S. Department of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award.

First and foremost, he was a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, serving as go-cart fabricator, math and physics tutor, TV kit builder, high school football videographer, and swim meet booster.

After retiring from Rockwell International in 1990, he became deeply involved in supporting arts, education, and human services as a volunteer. He served on many boards including Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers, Linn County Trails, Orchestra Iowa Foundation, Opera Theater, and Arthur A Collins Legacy Association. His favorite volunteer experiences include national competitions with Pierce Elementary LEGO robotics team, working to build wheelchair ramps with WRAP Iowa, and planning and promoting Honor Flights flying veterans to Washington, DC to visit military monuments.

Esther and Mike were honored at both state and local levels for their thousands of volunteer hours and financial support.

Mike is survived by his four children; M Frank (Jody) of Cedar Rapids, Eric (Ann) of Austin, Texas, Joyce Barrett (Jim) of Columbus, Ohio, and Becky Dreasher (Ron) of Longmont, Colorado; seven grandchildren: Sven Wilson (Stephanie) of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Olaf Wilson (Eleanor) of La Grange, Illinois, Sarah Barrett (Brian) of New York City, Michael Barrett of Columbus, Ohio, Thomas Barrett of Vista, California, Grant Dreasher of Boulder, Colorado, and Elaine Dreasher of Longmont, Colorado and 5 great-grandchildren: Cyrus and Camille Wilson, Cameron Wilson, and Ben and Emma Hendricks. He is preceded in death by his wife of nearly 72 years, Esther, daughter-in-law, Diane Wilson, his parents, and sisters.

A Celebration of life will be held on his 100 th birthday, Friday, October 18, 2024, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4-6 p.m. Friends are encouraged to live in accordance with his advice: “Keep at it. And help others when you can.

No Flowers, memorials may be made to the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation.