New Beginnings: Wilson Funeral Home Changes Ownership

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There is a saying that every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

For 47 years, Ed and Kathy Wilson have owned and operated Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka. They continued the legacy of Ed’s father, and the Gutting Funeral Home before then.

“Wilson Funeral Home has now become, Wilson & Triplett Funeral Home.  Please join us in welcoming Sandy and Chris Triplett to our community,” said Ed and Kathy Wilson in a Facebook post on Monday, September 21.

Now, Ed and Kathy are exploring the concept of being able to attend family functions, and participate in the activities of their grandchildren, with their retirement from full time funeral service. While Ed and Kathy will still call Kahoka home, Chris and Sandra Triplett have purchased the business and now also will have roots in Kahoka as the new owners of Wilson & Triplett Funeral Home. Ed and Kathy will still have some involvement but Chris and Sandra will be assuming full time, day to day operations.

Chris is a sixth generation funeral director and was raised in Staunton, Illinois where he spent most of his life in his grandparent’s funeral home. He is a 2003 mortuary science valedictorian from St Louis College, Forest Park, and also served as a clinical embalming instructor for many students over the years. 

His wife, Sandra, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and was a successful embalmer and funeral director of her own funeral home in Campbell River, British Columbia. 

Both owned and operated what is now McGriff & Triplett Funeral Homes, out of Louisville and Kinmundy, Illinois

Together they have six children between them, and their middle son, David, attends Clark County High School. They also have three cats.

Sandra comes from a big football family and she has really enjoyed Friday night games watching the Indians play at the high school. (And watching David play sousaphone in the band)

The Tripletts  are very active in their communities, and church, and are looking forward to settling in to their new home. 

“We’re looking forward to getting to know the people here, and serving them for years to come,” said Chris.

“And we’re happy to call Clark County our home,” added Sandra.

Their roundabout path to Kahoka came after Chris was talking to a friend of a friend, who knew that Ed and Kathy were considering retirement.

They called and talked to Ed, who answered without hesitation, “Yep.”

Both Chris and Sandra want to thank all of the great local restaurants who have been feeding them during their transition to their new home, all of the residents who have already stopped by to say “hi,” and Stacey Smith for helping them get set up with cell phones on the local network.