Jane Ann Wilson
With sadness, the family of Jane Ann Wilson, age 85, announces her passing on Dec. 13, 2025, after a long illness.
Jane was born on Dec. 19, 1939, in Middlefield, Ohio, to the late Ulrich and Helen (nee Prots) Nightingale. She grew up and lived in the Geauga County area, graduating from Newbury High School in 1957.
At the age of 2, unknowing at the time, she met the love of her life, Dick Wilson, who lived across the street and, four years her senior, pulled her around in a red wagon. She married Dick on Nov. 29,1958. Their wedding day was nearly canceled by one of the most devastating blizzards in Ohio history. However, her father, an excavator, used his heavy equipment to clear a way for the ceremony to go forward and friends and family to attend.
Since then, Dick and Jane enjoyed a wonderful 67 years of marriage and welcomed two sons, Jeff and Doug, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Jane was a homemaker, cook and gardener. Her passion was her Arabian horses, which she bred and showed. She designed and created beautiful and intricate costumes, traveling to shows with her husband and young sons along for support.
Jane also enjoyed traveling. She and Dick, often with special friends Barney and Barb, traveled the world together, exploring over 65 countries. She loved to tell us about the people and the cultures upon her return each time.
Jane lived most of her life in Geauga County, wintering in Cape Coral, Fla., where she and Dick eventually settled full-time. Fittingly, they named their boat “Sea Spot” after the “Dick and Jane” Primary Reading Book Series dog “Spot.”
In addition to her husband, Jane is survived by her sons, Jeff (Cheryl) Wilson, of Dayton, Ohio, and Doug (Allison Oprandi), of Canton, Ohio; her grandchildren, Megan (Ryan) Bethel, of Dayton, Bryan Wilson, of Dayton, Rachel Wilson, of Virginia, and Christopher Wilson, of Columbus, Ohio; great-grandchildren, Regan and Logan; and her brother, Lanny (Virginia) Nightingale, of Florida.
The family wishes to thank her caretakers at Sanctuary Grande and Absolute Hospice.
A celebration of Jane’s life will be held at a later date in Geauga County.
Rossi Family Funeral Home, Inc., of Canton, is handling arrangements.
