October 4, 2024 – West Bend, Wi – 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 the then new West Bend East/West High Schools as a hall monitor. In 1982, Darlis and Chuck moved from West Bend to their lake home on Big Sand Lake in Phelps, WI where they could enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, and God’s Country daily. They returned to West Bend in 2003 to be closer to family and enjoy endless card games with their 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Darlis and Chuck did everything together. They loved dancing and following the West Bend Blaskapelle. Traveling with her husband, friends, and family were a big part of her life she enjoyed very much. 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 children’s choir director at Trinity Lutheran Church, West Bend for many years and an adult choir director at Pioneer Lake Lutheran Church in Conover, WI and Grace Lutheran Church in Gulf Shores, Alabama where they were Snowbirds from 1994-2020.
Many special friendships were formed in those Snowbird years. She was active in the West Bend Children’s Theatre, Inc. taking charge of front of house for 13 years. She enjoyed oil painting where many works were commissioned or exhibited throughout her years including 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 5 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.”
A heartfelt thank you to the very caring staff of the Cornerstone Assisted Living in West Bend and Lily Hospice for their care and compassion and wrapping her in love over the past 16 months.
VISITATION: Darlis’s family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, October 4, 2024 from 9:30 a.m., until 11:15 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (1044 S. Silverbrook Drive, West Bend).
SERVICE: At 11:30 a.m., a funeral service in celebration of mom’s wonderful life will be held following the visitation at the church. Burial will follow in Washington County Memorial Park in West Bend.
The family thanks Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service for Darlis’s arrangements. For additional information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.myrhum-patten.com
