Donald Eugene Wilder Sr.

Donald “Don” Wilder Sr., 71, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away on Friday, December 8, 2023 at Accura Healthcare of Marshalltown.

A memorial visitation for Don will take place on Friday, December 15 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Donald Eugene Wilder was born June 6, 1952 in Marshalltown to parents Arthur and Roberta (Tibbs) Wilder. Known to many, including his teammates as “Spider,” he excelled at basketball during his high school career at Marshalltown High School and went on to play at Muscatine Community College. Don worked several jobs over the years, including Fisher Controls, Marshalltown Instruments, in I.T. at APAC and Iowa Telecom.

Family meant everything to Don. Spending 43 years with the love of his life, Beverly “Bev” (Sievers), the couple raised their children together. Don was a dedicated husband and father, never missing a sporting event or concert. He also spent many years coaching his little brother and his children’s sports teams. He was a jokester and very social – he never met a stranger. At “five feet eighteen inches” tall, he was often referred to as a “gentle giant,” with the size of his heart even bigger than his stature. He was also a member of Second Baptist Church.

Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife and partner of 43 years, Bev; children: D.J. (Desi) Wilder of Marshalltown, Brad (Amy) Cox of Garwin and Rebecca (Kenneth) Zandarski of Tempe, AZ; grandchildren: Tyler, Trey, Kenzee, McKenna , Alexander, Austin, Adam, Qwinton and Andru; one great-grandson, Beckham; his siblings: David (Lynn) Wilder of Marshalltown, Diann Wilder-Tomlinson of Atlanta, GA and A.J. (Christine) Wilder of Muscatine; and several nieces and nephews.

In eternal life, he has been reunited with his son, Tim Cox and his parents, Arthur and Roberta Wilder.