Obituaries

May 24, 1939 to November 19, 2016

WINAMAC - Maurine Wilder, 77, of Winamac, passed away at 9:05 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 19, at her home, surrounded by her family.

She was born May 24, 1939 in Columbus, to the late Lewis F. and Eathel Myers Wolters. At the age of four, her family moved to Phoenix, AZ. She graduated from North Phoenix High School in 1958. On Feb. 13, 1959, she married Josh Wilder. He survives

Also surviving are:
Daryl (Dianna) Wilder, Winamac, Son
Daryn (Laura) Wilder, Lake Worth, FL, Son
Annette (Tom) Walke, Phoenix, AZ, Daughter
Lynette Wilder, Winamac, Daughter
Emily (Mike) Cons, Granddaughter
Britni Wilder, Granddaughter
Joaunpaey Davis, Step Granddaughter
McKenzie Terry, Step Granddaughter
John Terry, Step Grandson
Sherrill Griffin, Sister
Margaret (Wayne) DeMeritt, Sister

The Wilders moved to Winamac in 1961 where they raised their four children. Mrs. Wilder was a longtime member of the Winamac Church of the Nazarene where she had formerly taught Sunday School and served as Bible School director, contributions secretary, Sunday School secretary, steward, secretary of the church board, missionary study chairman, and director of the "Pulpit Puppeteer" Ministry. In 1999, she was presented with the "Distinguished Service Award" by her church congregation. 

She was an active member of the community. She was a founding member of the Razzle Dazzle Red Hat Ladies group and a co-founder of Visually Impaired Persons "VIP" a local support group. She was a former member of the Kitchen Kadettes and Lamda Phi. Over the years, she enjoyed assisting her husband with the Northern Indiana Power From the Past organization

Mrs. Wilder had a gift for writing. Along with hundreds of poems, she also wrote and self-published four books. She was well known in the community for her "Joy in the Mailbox" ministry where she wrote thousands of letters to shut-ins and those who were experiencing difficulties in their life. Upon reflection on her vision loss due to macular degeneration, she recalled John 9:3, "...this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in my life."  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. She will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac; and one hour prior to services at the church Wednesday. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23, at the Winamac Church of the Nazarene, Winamac. Burial will be at McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be made to: Winamac Church of the Nazarene or American Cancer Society or Kindred Hospice.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.