Francis Wilder

Francis Wilder, 88, of St. Joseph, MI, went to be with the Lord Friday, November 23, 2012 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Friday, November 30, 2012 at First Baptist Church, 902 Broad St., St. Joseph, with Reverend Marlo Fritzke officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma where military rites will be held. Visitation will be held Thursday, November 29, 2012 from 2 until 4 P.M. and from 6 until 8 P.M. at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church. Those wishing to share a memory of Francis may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Francis was born October 14, 1924 in South Bend, IN, to Edwin & Bernice (Omweg) Wilder. He married Martha Herman in Benton Harbor on November 11, 1945. They enjoyed 67 years of marriage together. Francis was a veteran, having served in the Air Force during WWII. He worked as an itinerant carpenter instructor for the state of Michigan and retired after twenty-nine years. Francis enjoyed bee keeping, raising Christmas trees and fishing. Francis is survived by his wife, Martha Mae Wilder of St. Joseph; son Douglas Wilder of Julian, CA; daughters, D. Dee Wilder (George Zelznak) of Madison, MS, and Cindy Wilder (Dave Wreggit) of Anchorage, AK; and many nieces and nephews. Francis was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Charles Wilder and Ray Wilder.