Vernard D. Wildeman

Vernard D. Wildeman passed away at his residence in Glendale, CA on March 24, 2025 at the age of 93. He was born to Daniel and Mary Wildeman on July 18, 1931, near Park, KS. Later the family moved south of Grainfield, KS, where he attended country school and graduated from Grainfield High School. After graduating he attended business school in Pueblo Colorado. Vern worked for Missouri Pacific RR for a short time and soon after volunteered for the army. His two years of service were at Fort Sill, OK. After the army, Vern entered the Denver University for a year and not fond of the cold weather decided to move to Phoenix, AZ, where he only stayed for a few weeks before making the move to Los Angeles, CA. Vern was sharing an apartment with a friend and attending a Hollywood church, when a friend introduced him to a beautiful young lady Fran Haines.

Vern and Fran were married on November 24th, 1962. Vern was employed at several companies before deciding to make a career with the county of L.A. in 1972. Vern retired from his job with the county in 1995, after his retirement Vern and Fran joined several dance clubs and especially enjoyed ballroom dancing, took many trips and cruises enjoying their retirement life. They were married over 55 years until Fran's death in 2018. After Fran's passing Vern sold his home and moved into a retirement center in Glendale, CA. Vern was the type of person that made friends anywhere he went during his entire life, he made many new friends at the retirement center and lived out the remainder of his life at this location. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Fran, brothers Pius and Francis, sisters Annunciata Weber and Carolyn, brother-in-law Aloysius Weber and sister-in-law Nyla (Wildeman) Kippes. He is survived by sister-in-law Doreen Wildeman and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral mass for Vernard and Francine Wildeman will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 25th, 2025, at the Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Grainfield, followed by inurnment at the Grainfield cemetery.