Essex - Essex - Peter Francis Wilson, 76 of Essex, passed away at his home after an extended illness on Thursday, May 22nd. Peter was the son of the late Robert Alden and Louise Jean (Summit) Wilson. Peter grew up on Choate Street, moved across town to Sumac Drive, and called Essex home his entire life, with pride.

Although admittedly not a stellar student, Peter excelled in Boy Scouts and loved to hunt, build, and tinker - learning from and following in his father's footsteps. Growing up, Peter found immense joy and passion scouring the woods and waters of Essex and surrounding towns. He traveled to Maine, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, along with many other states, both alone and with friends, to pursue deer, fish, and duck. If anything got in their way that may have also been a target, only the trees and some dearly departed friends know the details of those unspoken endeavors. Peter's shop walls are adorned with dozens of antler sets (and two prize taxidermy heads) from decades of fruitful hunts.

Upon turning 18, Peter enlisted in the United States Army, serving multiple tours of duty in Vietnam with the Armor Division. While honorably serving his country for over five years, he was awarded multiple Bronze Service Stars, the National Defense Service Medal, a Purple Heart, and many other commendations. His skill as a sharpshooter was renowned. Serving in Vietnam did not harden Peter; rather, it softened him, and Essex and surrounding towns benefited from a citizen who went on to live with intention, honesty, care, and integrity, always with his community and family first.

A jack of all trades, Peter worked on Cross Island for over 45 years. From roofing to plumbing, painting to mowing lawns, the Emerson family trusted him with Cross Island, inside and out. The Emersons treated Peter as a member of their own family. Peter also lived in and took care of their property, The Poor Farm, on Sumac Drive. He painstakingly cared for the home during his life there, making it a special place full of memories for his family.

Peter was well known in Essex, Ipswich, and Gloucester for his kind and generous nature. He was a proud member of the Ipswich VFW and the Blue Knights International Motorcycle Club. He participated in dozens of fundraising rides across New England. Losing his friend Nelson Selig in May of 2000, and riding in his honor annually, was very important to him. When Peter lost his ability to safely control his motorcycle, it was the end of an era of wonderful community involvement with friends who he considered family.

Peter loved Conomo Point. He loved taking care of homes and getting to know the families who owned them, generation after generation. He loved seeing folks on the Essex River and at Crane's beach, fishing, clamming, and having a great time. He'd always give a big wave out of his truck window while driving through town, or have time for a chat at the dump or the hardware store, no matter what the temperature was. Peter relished in the conversations had at the come-along or on the road to the back lot while folks were walking their dog or sitting on their porch, after he had crossed the narrows to go home for the night. A rather unique position held by Peter was that of Deputy Essex Shellfish Constable. Peter did not love giving folks a ticket for bringing in clams of the incorrect size... but folks understood because that was his job, and he loved the river and all it provided as much as they did.

Essex being known for amazing seafood and hospitality, Peter always enjoyed seeing friends out to dinner at his old haunts: The Millstone (the best anadama bread and bean dip), Dexter's Hearthside, Periwinkles, The Boathouse, The Blue Marlin, and in more recent years, Bradford Tavern. Peter loved his clam strips with extra, extra tartar sauce - an Essex boy through and through!

Most importantly, Peter loved marking the comings and goings of the tide and seasons by stripers and mackerel, the greenhead boxes going up on the marsh, the seasonal turning on and off of the water on Conomo Point (which meant saying hello and goodbye to friends), docks in and out, dozens of boats out at Crane's respecting that the Plovers needed breeding space, and the folks headed out to the flats to dig for clams. Peter was fascinated by the ways the River changed over the seasons, how sand altered the course of people's lives, and he was very excited to see the River dredging project completed. Alas, we'll mark these new shifts in the River without him - but please think of Peter as you remark on the ways the River will continue to change over the years, as he's there shifting with it.

Peter is survived by his loving daughter, Kristin Rofe and husband, Nick, and their three children, Alden, Knox, and Orrin, who miss their Papa greatly, of Gorham, ME; Cameron D'Andrea, who Peter loved and raised as a son, and his partner Callie O'Brien, of Gloucester; long-time friend, Wendy Merrick of Hudson, NH; brother James A. Wilson and wife Tammy, of Essex; brother Jon Daniel Wilson and wife Louella, of Tacoma, WA; sister-in-law Barbara Jobe (predeceased by brother Robert Jobe, Sr.); and many nieces and nephews. Peter's friends were always incredibly important to him and there are too many to list!

Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Friday, August 8, 2025, beginning at 6pm at the Ipswich VFW, located at 110 County Rd, Ipswich. We look forward to this opportunity to share stories about one of the most eclectic men you've ever met - Peter would call this a party, so let's join together to celebrate a life well-lived!

Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich. Condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.