Wilson, Irving A.
Irving Arthur Frank “Brud” Wilson, 98, of Wethersfield, CT and Dennis, MA passed away peacefully on February 15, 2024. He was the beloved husband of Elaine (Akerberg) Wilson for nearly 75 years.
Born July 24, 1925 in Hartford, CT to the late Frank and Sigrid (Nelson) Wilson, Irving attended Southwest School and graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1943. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and proudly served as a B-29 navigator during World War II. Following his discharge and with the help of the GI Bill, he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY. He was a member of Chi Phi fraternity and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. He then began a distinguished 34 year career at Connecticut Light and Power Company. During the expansion of nuclear power in the New England states, he held the position of Director of Construction at Northeast Utilities and retired in 1988.
Throughout the years Irving was actively involved in community life and service. A lifelong member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hartford, he served in many leadership capacities. He was a member of the Church Council for several years including two terms as president, a member of the Modeen Scholarship Committee, and a member of the Usher Team. Irving was a member of Sequin-Level Lodge No. 140 and was currently its oldest living Past Worshipful Master. He was awarded the prestigious Pierpont Edwards Medal in Bronze for Distinguished Masonic Service. In addition, he was a member of the Newington Zoning Commission and served as chairman for several years, a member of the West Hartford Squires, a member of Indian Hill Country Club, and a Little League baseball and Parks and Recreation basketball coach.
Irving was extremely proud of his Swedish heritage and his family. As a young child his parents instilled in him a deep faith in God, high moral standards, and a love of family. His twin sister Barbara called him “Brud” (short for Brother), and this name remained with him throughout his life. Brud met the love of his life Elaine at a church youth group, and they were married at Emanuel on June 18, 1949. Together they raised four children and considered those years of parenting a growing family to be some of their happiest. There were vacations to Cape Cod, backyard neighborhood baseball games, math homework sessions, Christmas Eve smorgasbords, and nightly family prayers.
Upon retirement Brud and Elaine spent time at their second home on the Cape and generously shared it with their children and grandchildren. They enjoyed winter stays in FL and several trips to Europe with church groups. On one visit to Stockholm Brud arranged to meet his mother's sister for the very first time, and there were many hugs and tears around. He had time to play golf again, and he carded his only hole-in-one at Dennis Pines Golf Course witnessed by his son James. Brud enjoyed playing bridge and tennis, reading American history, gardening, taking Swedish lessons, clamming, visiting with friends and neighbors, and always ending each day having devotions with Elaine. He was the Best Boy Papa to his granddaughters, and he adored them. He celebrated their every milestone, and he truly felt that his life was complete with the arrival of his great-grandchildren.
Brud is cherished and remembered as the patriarch of the Wilson Family, a member of the Greatest Generation, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Elaine (Akerberg) Wilson; his children, Kathleen Ashwell, Kathryn (Thomas) LaPointe, James (Pamela) Wilson, and John (Patricia) Wilson; his granddaughters, Erika (T. J.) Corredine, Kirsten (Daniel) Skoczylas, Anne (Garrett) Hadley, and Amy (Mitchell) Sacks; and his greatgrandchildren, Harper Hadley and James Corredine. In addition to his parents, Brud was predeceased by his sisters, Barbara Laitinen and Janice Reynholds; and his son-in-law, James Ashwell. “Vi älskar dig, Papa.”
A private service and burial with military honors will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, CT at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church, 311 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. The Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home in West Hartford, CT has care of arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.SheehanHilbornBreen. com.