Wilbur Dale Silver, 93, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 23 at First Presbyterian Church in Dallas Center, where the family will received friends one hour prior to the service. Burial followed at the Berwick Cemetery in Berwick, Iowa.
Wilbur was born, the fourth of eight children, on the family farm a mile east of Berwick to Roy Oliver and Winifred “Winnie” Mary (Vertz) Silver. During his youth, he spent lots of time working on the farm taking care of the crops and animals.
Wilbur married Evelyn Laurene Edholm on Sept. 3, 1946, in Bremerton, Wash. They met in a movie theater line during his shore leave while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was 18, and he was 21.
He retired from John Deere Des Moines Works Machinist Department as a tool and die maker after 33 years.
Wilbur was a member of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge #479 since 1987 and the Delta Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M. and the American Legion Iowa Post 0729 Lodge 356 Adel, Iowa. He was also a Mason for more than 55 years.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas Center for 60 years, where he and Evelyn served as deacons.
He coached little league softball for his boys, was a Cub Scout leader, built theatrical sets and was even a helper for the Campfire Girls.
Wilbur loved watching his children and grandchildren participate in sports, musicals and band concerts and also enjoyed spending time camping with friends and square dancing with his wife. He loved spending time with his family at the farm where he was raised in Berwick and with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents; son, Paul Dean Silver; siblings, Roy William Silver and wife, Viola “Louise” (Webb) Silver, Wilma Maxine Silver, Donald Ervin Silver and wife, Phyllis Margete (Siemens) Silver, Ralph Paul Silver and Carl Adrian Silver; sister-in-law, Shirley Ann (Brown) Silver; brother-in-law, Dale Thomas Williams; nephews, Russell Wayne Silver and Richard Adrian Silver; great-niece, Lanette JoAnne LeCroy; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Arthur and Hazel (Chase) Edholm.
He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Evelyn; his loving children, Dale (Linda) Silver of Alleman, Iowa, Gary (Peggy) Silver and Lyle (Tami) Silver, both of Dallas Center, and Linda (Dwane) Estes of Windsor Heights; grandchildren, Kari (Silver) Peterson of Ames, Crystal Silver (and Alan Yong) of Pasadena, Calif., Matthew Silver of Seattle, Wash., Jeremy (Sheri) Silver of Port Orchard, Wash., Jamey “Jay” (Julianna) Silver of Shoreline, Wash., Chris (Laura) Silver of Polk City, Thomas Davey of Windsor Heights and Jenna Silver of Dallas Center; step-granddaughter, Katie Ristau-Estes of Chicago; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Evelyn B. Williams Little of Sun City, Ariz.; brother, Keith R. Silver of Urbandale; brother-in-law, Gene Edholm of Eugene, Ore.; and many nieces; nephews; relatives; and friends.
Wilbur was a strong family man his entire life, and he loved his wife more than anything in this world. They had recently celebrated their 70th anniversary earlier this fall. Together they raised five children and helped raise two of their grandchildren, all of whom always held a special place in his heart and he in theirs.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Dallas Center.
