WILDER, Stewart "Stu" Earl

WILDER, WILCOX, MARINER, GEHRINGER, MOEN, WALLNER, SPILMAN, HUGHES

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/25/2013 at 23:46:51

Stewart "Stu" Earl Wilder, 77, 1745 210th St., Garner, Iowa, died Sunday, Jan.
17, 2010, at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. A
Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Jan. 22, 11 a.m., at Ward-Van Slyke
Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. Visitation will be Thursday from 5
– 7 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke. Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery.
Military Honors will be provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W. Memorials may be
given to Hospice of North Iowa or a food bank of your choice.

Stewart "Stu" was born on Sept. 7, 1932 in Clear Lake to Frank Hart and
Lillian Mae (Wilcox) Wilder. Stewart attended Clear Lake Schools and was a
member of the class of 1950. He worked for Watertower Paint and Repair before
entering the Army in 1953, serving in the Korean War. After being honorably
discharged on July 20, 1954 he continued working for Water Tower Paint and
Repair for a total of 11 years. He then began work at Cenex-Land O Lakes Feed
Plant in Mason City and retired in 1992 after 31 years. He was a member of
Teamsters Union Local 828 in Mason City and was on the Board of Trustees for
several years and was also Union Steward at Land O Lakes for 17 years.

He married Lenna Mariner on Oct. 27, 1955 and six children were born to this
union.

From August 1975 until April 1978 he owned and operated the Coffee Shop on
Main Street in Clear Lake with his wife and children. He kept his full-time job
during this time and was chief bottle washer at the Coffee Shop.

He was around horses all his life and he raised many breeds of horses. His
favorite were the Halflinger breed of small draft horses. He enjoyed driving
them and made many new friends attending the horse expos and sales. He was a
member of the American Halflinger Association.

Stu had to overcome many health issues but he never let life’s trials get
him down. He was very strong until the end.

Stu is survived by his wife, Lenna Wilder, Garner; five children, Bonnie
(Ron) Gehringer, Longmont, Colo., Beth (Barry) Moen, Sheridan, Wy., Barbara
Wallner, Virginia, Minn., Becky (Randy) Spilman, Clear Lake, Brenda (Steve)
Hughes, Peoria, Az.; 14 grandchildren, Katie Spilman, Amber Schultz, Kelli Jo
Hughes, Dustin Spilman, Danielle (Dan) Maloit, Vanessa (Jared) Golinvaux, Leah
Hughes, Luke Moen, Nathan Wilder, Joel Moen, Kane Wallner, Tyler Wallner,
Brandon (Kelli) Hill and Adam Hill; seven great-grandchildren, Ryan Schultz,
Alexis Golinvaux, Dylan Schultz, Cameron Golinvaux, Jonathan Golinvaux, Aaron
Maloit and Michael Moore Jr.-Hughes; sister, Marlys Rosberg (Wayne) Sharon,
Carlisle, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Brian; his parents; and three
brothers, Daniel, Ethan and Dale.