Published on July 6, 2025 4:20 pm
Last Updated on July 7, 2025 9:46 am
Bryan R. Wilson, 51, of Effingham, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Arborcrest Memorial Park in Effingham. Online condolences may be shared at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.
Bryan was a beloved member of his community, known for his kindness and loving heart. His memory will be cherished by family and friends whose lives he enriched with his silliness, laughter, and unwavering willingness to help. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and his legacy will live on in the many lives he touched.
Bryan was born on October 11, 1973, in Mt. Vernon. He is the son of Carrol Wilson and Rita Pickard. A lifelong Lutheran, his church home was most recently St. John’s Lutheran Church in Effingham. He graduated from Altamont High School in 1991 and earned associate degrees in Business and Electronics Engineering from Lakeland College. Over the course of 25 years, he built a highly successful career in industrial inkjet printing, skillfully supervising multi-state territories and notably earning Salesman of the Year five years in a row at Digital Design. Bryan excelled at problem-solving and was the go-to person for family members needing help with mechanical and electrical conundrums. His fun-loving, competitive spirit and natural athleticism sparked a lifelong passion for physical adventure. Success in high school cross-country state championships eventually led him to run the Chicago Marathon as an adult, where he finished in the top third. Bryan loved activities that were physically and mentally challenging, especially when he was able to enjoy them with family. His adventurous spirit led him to countless pursuits, including golf, motocross, sport bikes, mountain biking, Tough Mudder competitions, skydiving, and scuba diving. Bryan had a profound love for animals, which began in childhood and remained a defining aspect of his life. From raising guinea pigs as a young boy to caring for tropical and exotic fish as a teen, and later, lovingly nurturing his cherished fur family —Jojo, Suki, and Nika—his deep affection for animals was ever-present and steadfast.
Bryan is survived by his wife, Lisa Wilson; children by marriage, Mackenzie and Bryce; father, Carrol Wilson; mother, Rita Pickard; stepfather, Gene Pickard; sister, Lora Wilson; siblings by marriage, Marcus and Katherine Pickard, and Julie Pickard; and parents by marriage, Judy Pirozzoli, and Marvin and Betty Franklin. He is also survived by many cherished aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Bryan was preceded in death by his brother Kendall Avery Wilson; grandparents, Herman and Lillian Wilson, and Milton and Gladys Avery; and father by marriage, Charles Pirozzoli.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorials may be made in Bryan’s honor to NAMI Champaign (National Alliance on Mental Illness) at https://namichampaign.org/ or to the Effingham County Humane Society at https://effinghamcountyhumanesociety.org/.