Wilbur, Cleon Arthur 1944-2010
WILBUR, ALBERTSON, HANSON, PREBLE, STEEN, SCHULTZ, BURTON, PEARSON, OLSON, ARNESON, HAACK
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/18/2012 at 13:42:40
Cleon A. Wilbur, age 66, of Mabel, MN, died Friday, December 17, 2010 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, IA.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at Burr Oak United Methodist Church in Burr Oak, IA with Rev. Mike Blevins and Rev. Matt Larson officiating. Burial will be in Burr Oak Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Monday, December 20 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Tuesday one hour before the service at the church.
Cleon Arthur Wilbur was born February 24, 1944 at home on the family farm in Prosper, Minnesota, the son of Lyle E. and Alice L. (Albertson) Wilbur. He was baptized and confirmed at Burr Oak United Methodist Church. Cleon graduated from Canton High School with the class of 1962 and from Winona State University with the class of 1966.
After college, he returned home to take over the family farm, and lived in the home in which he was born. The farm included crops, cattle and hogs – where Cleon’s strength maintained and expanded the operation while being a good steward of the land. He worked tirelessly in all that he did. While he retired from farming a few years ago, Cleon remained very active in the community and church. He continued as an auctioneer and real estate agent, helped dozens of people by maintaining lawns and plowing snow, and served in leadership positions at church. He could often be found at toy auctions, and enjoyed collecting antique toys, Disney characters, and (of course) John Deere equipment. Cleon stayed active throughout his life, particularly bowling and playing with grandchildren.
The most important thing in his life was his family. Cleon was united in marriage to Marilyn Kay Hanson on July 1, 1983 at the Burr Oak United Methodist Church. He loved his children very much, closely followed their careers and accomplishments, and was extremely proud of them. He regularly attended their activities, and enjoyed family get-togethers. And as their families grew, he thoroughly enjoyed his role as grampa – and loved to spend time with his grandchildren. Cleon will be fondly remembered as a gentle, joy-filled, and selfless man. His caring for others was reflected in the many random acts of kindness he often showed – a willingness to drop everything to help someone in need at any time. Each of us has been touched by his kindness.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn on January 5, 2002; his father Lyle on January 10, 2001; and by two nephews: Trent Wilbur on June 12, 1985 and Darrel Preble on July 20, 2006.
Cleon is survived by his six children: Russ (Pam) Wilbur of Cold Spring, MN, Melissa (Paul) Steen of Edina, MN, Lynn Wilbur (Alan Schultz) of Minneapolis, MN, Keri (Matt) Burton of Chaska, MN, Kris (Jared) Pearson of Rochester, MN and Stefanie (Trevor) Olson of Rochester, MN; nine grandchildren: Adam and Timothy Wilbur, Maya and Bennett Steen, Greta Wilbur and Isaac Schultz, Jacob Burton, and Alden and Logan Pearson; his mother, Alice Wilbur of Decorah; two brothers: Curtis (Janice) Wilbur of Miller, SD and Mark (Kathy) Wilbur of Decorah; two sisters: Karen (Arnie) Arneson of Canton, MN and Wanda (Ron) Haack of Bemidji, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Burr Oak Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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