Family, friends, his dogs and the Missouri River.
That's how those close to Joe Wilson said they would remember the man who was instrumental in the creation and beautification of the riverfront access park in north Jefferson City.
Wilson died Sept. 21. He was 74.
Saturday's seventh annual Race to the Dome canoe/kayak event was dedicated to him.
The last boat to come in was manned by a group that included two of Wilson's grandsons, Austin and Elliott, who competed in the 27-mile event for the first time and wanted to be the last vessel to come ashore in honor their grandfather.
"It's been amazing to see how many people cared about him and what he did," said Samantha Wilson, Joe's granddaughter. "The day he passed away I had 10-15 messages from people I didn't know who wanted to tell me how much they thought of him. I'm still too emotional about it, and I haven't gone through them yet."
At a memorial service Saturday evening following the race, Wilson was remembered for working closely with city officials for more than a decade on creating what was recently renamed Joe Wilson's Serenity Point. The park was named after him only hours after his passing by a unanimous vote of the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Department. Saturday evening, Wilson's family spread some of his ashes into the river.
"I know he's looking down, and we couldn't have had a more perfect day to remember him," said Chris Wilson, Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau sports/film sales manager, who is no relation to Joe. "I met him in my office and out here by the river many times as he worked to make the river a place for everyone to feel welcome."
Wilson was an ever-present part of the landscape, spending all of his free time at the river with his beloved canine companions, Baby and Bandit, in tow. Mayor Carrie Tergin declared this month "Joe Wilson, Baby and Bandit Month" in his honor. The Missouri House of Representatives also gave Joe's family a proclamation honoring him.
"I just hope people will continue to take care of this place," Samantha said.