Darylene Mae Wilder, 84, of Clay Center, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2023 at the Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center. She was born on December 11, 1938, the seventh of eight daughters of John A. H. and Marie C. (Wehking) Gunter on the family farm north of Miltonvale, Kansas.
She attended one room schools at Woodruff, Carmel and Limestone. Darylene graduated from Miltonvale Rural High School in 1956. She married James L. Carver in 1959-1965. They had two children, Linda L. and James, Jr. She married Jack E. Wilder December 10, 1966 and became stepmother to Sherry and Lisa. The couple had two more children, Darla J. and Jack, Jr.
Darylene was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she was baptized and confirmed March 30, 1958. She taught Sunday School and served on the Altar Guild for many years. She began her working career after high school at Central Office Service and Supply and Western Union, for the Copeland’s and McMahan’s and at the Star and Rex Theatres. She lived with her sister and brother in-law, Louise and Dean Liby during that time.
She felt blessed to be able to stay at home and raise her family and sought employment when Jacky became school age. She worked at Key Milling in the egg division, Bud’s Tire Service, and for Clay County Health Department, retiring in 2013 after nearly 20 years. Later, after retirement, she became Finance Secretary at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Darylene enjoyed summers on Milford Lake, camping with their young children, vacations trips with children in their station wagons, later visiting the east coast and Great Lakes, especially the lighthouses, which she collected replicas and memorabilia, with the help of family and friends.
Time spent sitting with loved ones in doctor’s offices, hospital rooms or her own rest periods, she occupied with needlework or her great love, reading.
Her joy and delight was her family. She was quite obsessed with pictures and genealogy, which she shared with cousins. She filled notebooks with family stories to pass down to grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Darylene is preceded in death by her parents; beloved son Jacky Wilder, Jr.; and 5 sisters, Freda Koerber, Loretta Price, June Herdt, Louise Liby and Minnie Beikmann.
She is survived by her husband, Jack Wilder, Sr.; son, James L. “Jay” Carver, Jr. of Clay Center, KS; 4 daughters, Linda and husband, Dennis Parry of Moundridge, KS, Darla Wilder of Junction City, KS, Sherry and husband, Christian Ruiz of Andover, KS and Lisa and husband, Tim Kaufman of Clay Center, KS; 15 grandchildren, Jill Wasko, Mindy (David) Parry, Holly (Matt) Plank, Jesse Taunton, Jareth Taunton, Aaron Jones, Jon (Sara) Cunningham, Jason (Rachel) Cunningham, Jeremy Cunningham, Jacob Ruiz, Ray Davis, Jennifer (Phillip) Ciampa, Lacy (Mike) Abell, Amanda Houchin (Clayton Mason) and Michael Houchin; 28 great grandchildren, Adelyn, Baby Parry, Paisley, Lucas, Elijah, Caden, Chance, Aeriana, Clara, Corbin, Titus, Lydia, Gideon, Evangeline, Ezra, Chloe, Abigail, Ryland, Emma, Izzy, Ally, Jeremiah, Gracelyn, Ezra, Lily, Isaiah, TJ and Monica; and 2 sisters, Elsie Affolter of Morganville, KS and Ann Worley of Clay Center, KS.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30AM on Monday, October 30 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clay Center.
Visitation will be held from 2-5PM on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home in Clay Center.
Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, Kansas.
Memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church and can be sent in care of the funeral home.
