Wilder, Phyllis Jean (Ashbacher) 1935-2011
WILDER, ASHBACHER, RUSSELL, BUDDENBERG, WALTERS, REMICK, UPTON, SMITH, GOERING, HARASIM, HAMILTON, WALTERS-DAVIS, GOSSMAN, LOREA-UPTON, KLEPPER, KLOCKE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/18/2012 at 14:21:54
Phyllis Wilder, age 76, of Decorah, IA, died at her home Friday, December 23, 2011, surrounded by her family.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 29, 2011, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Mark Kvale presiding. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lansing, IA.
Friends may call on from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Thursday morning.
Phyllis Jean (Ashbacher) Wilder was born on February 15, 1935, the son of Floyd William and Mabel Ethlyn (Russell) Ashbacher in French Creek, IA. Phyllis attended country school in rural Allamakee County and graduated from Waukon High School in 1953. She married James Myron Wilder on February 23, 1953, and to this union, seven children were born: Montgomery Ray, Rebecca Lynn, Cynthia Sue, Barbara Jo, Kristina Lee, Melissa Mae and a baby boy who died soon after birth. Shortly after they were married, Jim went into the Army and was eventually stationed in Salzburg, Austria. Phyllis remained in the States working as a waitress and staying with family until after Monty was born. Then Phyllis and Monty joined Jim in Austria until his tour was completed. It took a very dedicated wife to take a baby half way around the world so they could all be together. Jim, Phyllis and Monty lived in the upstairs apartment of a house there. Jim would sometimes bring friends home from the base so they could have one of Phyllis’ good home cooked meals. After they returned home from overseas, Jim and Phyllis started farming with the family until the opportunity to start their own dairy operation presented itself. Their farm eventually became known as Idle-Hour Holsteins, a Registered Holstein dairy farm. Many times Phyllis would be left to chore alone while the crops needed attention or Jim was working with Curtis Candy as an A I Technician. It was said that some of the more delicate ladies in the neighborhood worried about Phyllis being left to do the milking alone, but those who knew her said, “You don’t have to worry about Phyllis – she can handle those cows!” Phyllis was a strong and independent woman, often taking care of the farm on her own. Aside from being a wife, mother, homemaker, and dairy farmer, Phyllis also worked for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association as a Milk Tester, for many years to help earn extra money for the family. Later, Phyllis went back to school to become a home health aide and worked for a home health agency helping people who needed extra care. After Jim passed away in 1988, Phyllis continued to dairy farm for several years. In 1994, she had a farm auction and rented out the land. Phyllis worked as a cook at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home and later at Camcar. She continued to work at Camcar even after her diagnosis with lung cancer in 1999. In April of 2000, Phyllis had surgery to remove the lower third of her right lung. The doctors believed that they had removed all the cancer and no further chemotherapy or radiation was needed. About three years later, she received the news that the cancer had returned. Phyllis not only wanted to get better, but to help other people in the process. She agreed to try experimental chemotherapy and she was a very good patient – remaining on one study for several more years than anyone else. One of her physicians later told Phyllis that she was leaving her oncology practice to return to research and that Phyllis would be the subject of a research paper she was writing. Phyllis was the Matriarch of the Wilder family. She was a hard worker whose strong will and determination kept a farm and a family going through thick and thin. Phyllis was a loving Mother and Grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with all her family and friends. She was seldom without a smile and usually had a good joke or story to share. She loved to go dancing especially at “brother George’s barn”. Phyllis was rarely without a project. She made many people embroidered pillow cases, crocheted afghans, baby blankets and in later years, quilts. All of which were cherished treasures to those who received them. Phyllis took much comfort from her pets. Her dogs Jackson and Lily were her companions and protectors, but Phyllis loved all animals.
Phyllis is survived by her son: Montgomery “Monty” (Denise Buddenberg) Wilder, Decorah, IA. Five daughters: Rebecca (John) Walters, Dubuque, IA; Cindy (Michael) Remick, Decorah, IA; Barb (Kenneth) Upton, Postville, IA; Kristina “Kris” (Jean) Smith, Calmar, IA; and Melissa (Sean) Goering, Lucas, IA. Fourteen grandchildren: Jennifer (Wojtek) Harasim, Kelly Wilder, J.T. Walters, Courtney Walters, Timothy Walters, Jesse (Gina) Hamilton, Veronica Remick, Billy (Tonya) Remick, Hilary Upton, Aimee Upton, Dalton (Julie) Smith, Dakota Smith, Braxton Smith, and Grant Goering. Eleven great grandchildren: Finn Harasim, Sofia Harasim, Rachel Walters-Davis, James Hamilton, Tristin Gossman, Hailey Gossman, Ty Remick, Kaden Remick, Paxton Remick, Rojelio Lorea-Upton and Amira Upton. Two brothers: George (Belva) Ashbacher, Harpers Ferry, IA and Floyd (Karen) Ashbacher, Decorah, IA. Three sisters: Ardis (Curtis) Klepper, Postville, IA; Delores (Roger) Klocke, Waterloo, IA; and Francis Ashbacher, Kingman, AZ, along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband: Jim Wilder on December 26, 1988. One son in infancy and her parents: Floyd and Mabel Ashbacher.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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