Darlis Ann Wilfer (nee Justman) peacefully passed away on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at the age of 88 with her family at her side.
We are grateful for Mom’s beautiful life, and comforted by the faith we have that she is in a better place united with her husband, Chuck Wilfer, Sr.
Darlis was born on December 10, 1935, in West Bend, WI to the late Milton & Lorraine (nee Wheeler) Justman. Darlis graduated from West Bend High School Class of 1953 where she met and married her true love, Chuck Wilfer, Sr. on July 18, 1953, at Trinity Lutheran Church, West Bend WI.
Darlis worked many years at West Bend East/West High Schools as a hall monitor. In 1982, Darlis and Chuck moved to their lake home on Big Sand Lake in Phelps where they could enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, and God’s Country daily. In 2003 they returned to West Bend to be closer to family and enjoy endless card games with their five children, 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Darlis and Chuck did everything together. Earlier years brought whole family trips up north and out west with Mom, Dad, and 5 kids in the station wagon. What fun we had! Many family and friends were visited throughout the states and Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, France and even a special Disney Cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2003.
Darlis was a very creative person having many outlets to share her talents. She was a Christian woman who practiced her faith. Darlis was a choir director to children at Trinity Lutheran Church, West Bend and adults at Pioneer Lake Lutheran Church in Conover and Grace Lutheran Church in Gulf Shores, Alabama where they were Snowbirds from 1994-2020. Where many special friendships were formed.
She was active in the West Bend Children’s Theatre, Inc. She enjoyed oil painting where many works were commissioned or exhibited at MOWA where she also enjoyed their wonderful SPARK program. Darlis was a skilled homemaker; a wonderful cook and baker which led her to become a Founding Field Editor of Taste of Home from 1993 to her last recipe published in 2016.
Darlis’s life was happy and full. We will miss her dearly and cherish the years and lifelong memories. She loved family and the many friends and people with whom she crossed paths during her lifetime.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Charles H. Wilfer Sr.; her sisters-in-law, Joanne Yaggie and Jackie Wilfer; and brothers-in-law, Gene Wilfer, Irv Yaggie, John Larson, Dick Rose, Jim Falk, and Edward Wilfer.
Family was of great importance to her. She was a special ‘Oma’ to all of her grandchildren and great- grandchildren. They absolutely adored and loved their Oma.
Those who remain include her five children, Terri (Joerg) Kramer, Lauri Schmitt (Chris Wolter), Debbi (Rocky) Brooks, Charles Jr. (Debbie) Wilfer, and Mike Wilfer; 12 grandchildren, Jens (Danielle) Kramer, Stefan (Lindsay) Kramer, Kelly Schmitt (Chris Jain), Katie Schmitt (Terry Joost), Crystal Schmitt, Roxanne Colwell, Rachel (Devon) Lavoy, Abbey (Todd) Wright, Charles III (Emily) Wilfer, Bret Wilfer, Kyle Wilfer, and Ryan Wilfer; 17 GREAT-grandchildren, Lukas, Grayson, Kody, and Jonah Kramer, Ruby Kramer, Emma Hahn, Teagan, Brooks, and Adrienne Colwell, Nathan and Anthony Lavoy, Benjamin and Maggie Wright, Maya, Charles IV, and Macie Wilfer, and Kyrie Wilfer; sisters Lolly Rose and Connie Falk; brother Paul Justman; sister-in-law Karen Larson; as well as nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends in Germany.
Mom will always be remembered for her beautiful 5’2’’, eyes of blue, sweet smile, big heart, faith, fondness of birds and cranes, devotion to Dad, love of family, and always ice cream! We love her a “bushel and a peck”.
Services were held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in West Bend. Darlis was interred next to her husband in Washington County Memorial Park.
A heartfelt thank you to Cornerstone Assisted Living in West Bend, Lily Hospice for their care and compassion and Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service for Darlis’s arrangements. For additional information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.myrhum-patten.com.
PAID OBITUARY
