K. Lee Wilder

K. Lee Wilder, of Pekin, died at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, April 22, 2024 at Carle Health Methodist Medical Center in Peoria.

He was born on December 25, 1936 during Christmas dinner at his Grandmother’s house in Chenoa, Illinois, the son of Grant and Marjorie (Fincham) Wilder. He married Bernadette Krolak in Peru, Illinois on November 26, 1959. He later married Dorla (Van Dyke) Souba, who he had known since Second Grade, on May 30, 2012 in Pekin.

He is survived by his wife, Dorla, a daughter, Melissa (Todd) Kissinger of Pekin, and two sons, Michael (Gail) Wilder of Bettendorf, Iowa and Deacon Mark (Susan) Wilder of Pekin; a step-son, Monte (Julie) Squier of Augusta, Georgia; two stepdaughters, Nelena (Lee) White and Kim (Larry) Brown, both of Pekin; a stepdaughter-in-law, Jamie Squier of Morton; eleven grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren, a niece and nephew, a great-niece, two great-nephews and Lee’s dear friend, Margaret Bridges-Altine

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Rahn; a stepson, Kelly Squier; and a step-grandson, Seth White.

Lee’s early years were spent in Delavan, Illinois, before moving to Pekin with his parents in 1943. He always considered Delavan to be his hometown.

He was a 1954 graduate of Pekin Community High School, and attended Illinois Central College.

Lee worked at Preston Funeral Home and Noel Funeral Home in Pekin during and after high school, and drove an ambulance for those employers. He always felt that those employments contributed deeply to the development of his concern for others.

He joined Caterpillar Tractor Co. as a Heat Treat Apprentice and upon completion moved into Engineering and Research as a draftsman. He progressed into supervisory roles in services and personnel related functions, eventually becoming Engineering Services Manager. He retired in 1989 as Global Manpower & Organizational Planning Manager in Engineering General Offices.

Following retirement, he worked in consulting positions on fourteen projects for Caterpillar, including assisting with the start-up of the first five new southern plants in North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri and South Carolina. Other post-retirement consulting projects were with Axis, Inc., Illinois Machine & Tool, and Belcan Engineering.

Lee’s past involvements include: Charter President of the Finance Committee of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin; Telethon Volunteer/Coordinator and Vice President of the Board of Easter Seals; Vice President of the Industry/Education/Labor Council at ICC; Charter member of the Mayor’s Commission for the Handicapped in Pekin; member of the Advisory Board of the Pekin Area Vocational Center, and member of the Allocations Committee of the Heart of Illinois United Way.

His memberships have included: Charter Member of the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society; Delavan Community Historical Society; Delavan Athletics Booster Club; Sons of the American Revolution (national, state and the General Joseph Bartholomew Chapter in Bloomington that is named after his ancestor); Society of the War of 1812; Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War; and several genealogical societies in other states.

Lee owned Human Resources, Inc. and Ghosthunters Genealogical Services.

He was known in area stores as a frequent high-volume purchaser of greeting cards, a result of a long-time hobby of sending cards to relatives, friends, former employees and co-workers.

He had a large, well-decorated wine cellar and was a collector of cow and chicken figurines. He was also known as an “accumulator” of a wide variety of collectible items. Lee considered himself an all-around junk collector (labeled by his kids as the Fred Sanford of Pekin). He had a booth at the An-Teek Mall in Delavan, IL for many years.

Lee’s life-long goal was to become a beach bum on Kiawah Island, SC.

He was a Diehard Cubs Fan since 1948, and a Green Bay Packers fan. The latter was a result of spending a lot of time in Door County, WI. He collected books relating to that area and by authors having a connection to that area. His collection totaled over 1000 books, with all but 70 signed by the authors or other contributors.

Lee was a staunch conservative and leaves a perpetual request that everyone . . .

especially the President, members of Congress and elected officials from all states . . .

should put America ahead of politics. He was deeply disturbed by the lack of civility and the harassment directed toward those with opposing views. He also strongly believed in term limits for all politicians.

Per his instructions, there will be no services.

In lieu of memorials, Lee’s family requests that you honor his memory by sending a greeting card to someone.

Lee’s family also wish to express their deepest appreciation to the medical staff at Carle Health Pekin Hospital, Proctor Hospital and Methodist Medical Center for their outstanding care and compassion.

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