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Philip ‘Phil’ R. Wilson, 68

Philip ‘Phil’ R. Wilson, 68, was called to our Heavenly home on Aug. 13, 2019, from Hayden, Idaho.

The son of Forest Ennals Wilson and Garnette Merle Marshall, he grew up in Wilmington, Ohio. Phil graduated from Wilmington High School, was educated through the college of life, and obtained his teaching certificate through the University of Idaho.

Phil met his best friend and jewel, SuZanne Lynn Harris, in Santa Barbara, Calif., and they were married April 22, 1979, in Coeur d’Alene.

Phil was the owner and operator of Wiltrek Automotive with his wife at his side for many years. He later included a teardrop trailer manufacturing business, called Hunter Outdoor Products. When closer to retirement, Phil blessed the Inland Northwest youth community as an instructor at the newly opened Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC), in the art of mechanics.

Phil was a son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, master mechanic, teacher, role model and friend to many in the community and across the nation. Phil possessed a supernatural talent to connect in a special way with both humans and machines.

He enjoyed making things function, hands-on projects … he loved seeing things run — especially motorcycles! Phil was an avid gardener. His specialties were his favorites: asparagus and cherries from the tree he nurtured as a sapling.

Phil was a proud member of the American Motorcycle Club (AMA) and the Iron Butt Motorcycle Club, for which he had to ride 1,000 or more miles in 24 hours on his motorcycle. He easily put 64,000+ miles on his Suzuki Bandit in a year. Phil enjoyed taking his time investing in his family and his whole body, heart and spirit.

Phil’s most important accomplishment in his life was leading his wife, SuZanne, to find our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Phil is survived by his wife of 40 years, SuZanne; children, Nicole and Philip; grandchildren, Meghan, Courtney, Ryan, Christiana and Nicholas.; brothers, Mike and Tim; sisters, Hope and Rhoda; numerous nieces and nephews and many more family members, too numerous to count, but all were important to him.

A funeral service for Phil will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden, ID 83835.

A graveside will follow the funeral at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815, with a reception afterward, back at Yates Funeral Chapel in Hayden.

Donations are appreciated for funeral costs and the celebration of his amazing and influential life. Please visit Phil’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.