Wilma Wilson, 106, passed away December 10, 2023, at the Arbors, Hutchinson, KS. She was born June 24, 1917, to William C. and Alice M. Herren, in their farm home between Nickerson and Hutchinson, Kansas.
Wilma graduated from Reno Community High School, Nickerson, in 1934, and married Eugene Sturgeon of Zenith, KS, February 5, 1937. He passed away June 19, 1986.
Living on a farm, Wilma worked hard growing up and later as a wife and was a talented baker, and seamstress. For 22 years she cooked and ran the school lunch program at Nickerson Grade School. Wilma’s cinnamon rolls and deviled eggs were legendary. She was a core partner in their hog operation, and last showed at the state fair in 2006 at 89. After retirement, Wilma volunteered at the Food Bank for twenty years, and enjoyed church and community activities and traveling.
Wilma was a member of the Nickerson First Christian Church and lastly Nickerson United Methodist Church.
Wilma married R. Bruce Wilson on October 28, 1990, and moved to Hutchinson from the farm in 1996. They had over twenty-three great years of marriage together.
The Sturgeon and Wilson families had blended over the years in many ways with their children attending high school and college at the same times as well as Bruce, Edith (Bruce’s first wife), and Wilma all attending the same high school together, the same church for a number of years, and contributing to the same community with agricultural, 4-H and personal activities.
Survivors include: daughters, Judy Wiesenthal of El Paso, TX, and Elaine Cloyd (John Mitchell) of Hutchinson; stepsons, Clarence Wilson of Lawrence, KS, and Kenneth (Shirley) Wilson of Hutchinson, KS; stepdaughter, Rosanne Wilson of Topeka, KS; grandchildren, Brian (McKenzie) Cloyd of Baldwin, KS, Carl Wiesenthal of El Paso, TX, Mark (Rachel) Wiesenthal of Meadow, TX; step-grandchildren; Tammy (Sean) Moore of Hutchinson, Robert (Ann) Wilson of Salem, SC, Gerald (Kendra) Wilson of Fairplay, CO, Jayme (Aaron) Bennett of Tonganoxie, KS, Darin and James Wilson of Hutchinson, and Matthew (Amy) Wilson of Miami, OK; great-grandchildren; Lowen and Palmer Cloyd, Amanda and Serina Wiesenthal, Cole and Wyatt Bennett, Calub and Ashlee Wilson, Aiden and Jordan Wilson; and great-great-grandchildren; Johann and Emil Wiesenthal.
Wilma was preceded in death by: husbands, Eugene Sturgeon and Bruce Wilson; son, Dale Sturgeon; son-in-law, Alvin Wiesenthal; grandsons, Roy Lee and Rex Wiesenthal; stepdaughter, Patricia Wilson; and stepsister, Mary Alice Hobbs Ditgen.
The Celebration of Life will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Elliott Mortuary Chapel, with nephew Roger Herren and Pastor Mercy Langat presiding. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary.
Click here to view Wilma's Celebration of Life Service
Memorials may be made to the Reno County Food Bank, Nickerson United Methodist Church, or Reno County Crime Stoppers, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a personal condolence for Wilma’s family.