Jesse Wilder

Jesse W. Wilder, 84, of Bradley, died Wednesday (April 22, 2009) at Provena St. Mary's Hospital, Kankakee. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Saturday until the 1 p.m. services at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. Father John Antczak and Deacon Leon Fritz will officiate. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bradley; Provena St. Mary's Oncology Department; or to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.Mr. Wilder was a retired union pipefitter. He was the former owner of the Boiler Room restaurant; former owner/operator of the Wabash Grocery in Bradley; and owned and renovated many rental properties in the area. He was born May 12, 1924, in Bradley, the son of Eugene and Myrtle Clark Wilder. He was a 1943 graduate of Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, where he was class president all four years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II as a paratrooper and was a member of the Bradley American Legion Post 0766 and the Bradley VFW Post 6502. He was baptized overseas during World War II in Joigny France and also confirmed overseas during World War II in Rheims Cathedral, France. He was a member of Pipefitters Union Local 383 (now Local 422), where he was a former executive board member and treasurer. He was one of the original organizers of Little League in the area. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bradley, where he had been a member of the fundraising committee to build the current St. Joseph Church. He was an avid White Sox fan. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was involved in every aspect of their lives.Surviving are his wife, the former Irene Dionne, of Bradley, whom he married Aug. 30, 1945, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kankakee; one son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Debbie Wilder of Bradley; two daughters, Kay Wilder of Wilmington, Becky Wilder of Bourbonnais; grandchildren, Ryan and Tari Wilder, Dan Wilder, Megan and Jon Clark, all of Bradley, Jessica McCormick of Wilmington; one great-grandson, Owen Wilder; and one brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Wanda Wilder of Urbana.Deceased are his parents; two sisters, Harriet VanVleck and Jeanette Lergner; and two brothers, Eugene and George Wilder.

Jesse Wilder

May 12, 1924 - April 22, 2009