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Wilda Florence
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Obituary for Wilda Florence

Wilda Irene DeWees Dunn Florence passed away on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the Rensselaer Care Center. She had been in failing health for three years. She was born on November 25, 1908 in Rensselaer to Henry Clay and Effie (Martin) DeWees.

She was married on May 25, 1927 to Lloyd Delos Dunn in Rensselaer. They were divorced in 1958. He died January 18, 1966. She married Arthur Florence on December 14, 1959 in Remington. He preceded her in death.

She started working at the old Jasper County Hospital at the age of 18 years as a cook. She then worked for O’Reilly’s Bakery in Rensselaer. She then went to work at Kanne’s Restaurant and Tap in Rensselaer. In 1966, she purchased the Huddle Inn in Rensselaer and was well known for her daily specials and homemade pies. After selling the Huddle Inn in 1976, she went to work at the Trail Tree fixing their daily specials and baking pies until the age of 97 when she retired. Her fried chicken, noodles and pies were well known through out the area.

In addition to her employment, she volunteered to fix funeral dinners and Rotary dinners for years with her step-mother, Bessie DeWees at the First Christian Church in Rensselaer. She was pie chairman for the Little Cousin Jasper Beef Dinner at the First Christian Church for over 25 years.

She was a member of the First Christian Church where she served as a deaconess and a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship of the church. She was also a Fellow at St. Joseph's College. She enjoyed her bunco club of which she was a charter member. After the club disbanded, she went to the Senior Center to play bunco and enjoy fellowship.

She is survived by her son, Paul (Valorie) Dunn, Rensselaer, her daughters, Malene Simonin, Medford, OR, Nancy (Bud) Justice, Rensselaer, Gayla (Roger) Warran, Rensselaer, son-in-law, Joseph Lane, Rensselaer, brother, Marvin (Dorothy) DeWees, Rensselaer, sister-in-law, Kate DeWees, Rensselaer, 9 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving is special friend, Helen Hetzner, Rensselaer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her step-mother, both of her husbands, brothers, Gaylord and Donald DeWees, sisters, Ruth DeWees, Leona Dadian, Gaskell Ferguson, daughter, Joyce I. Lane, son-in-law, Robert Simonin, grandson & granddaughter-in-law, great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be Tuesday, February 8, 2011 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. CST at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. CST at Steinke Funeral Home with Rev. Eric Brotheridge officiating. Interment will follow at Weston Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of Rensselaer or to the charity of the donor's choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wilda Florence, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

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