Wilda
Wilda N. Adams
Wilda N. Adams age 84 passed away Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Rose Arbor Hospice.
She began her life on a farm in Dongola, IL on February 10, 1932, the daughter of Harvey and Catherine (Cook) Bourland. Due to her mother’s illness at 3 months she went to live with her paternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Arminda and Eli Short. She started first grade at the age of 4 and walked 2 miles to the country school. When she was 12 they moved to a farm between Otsego and Plainwell. Wilda graduated from Otsego High School in 1949. At age 18 she went to work for the Kalamazoo Stove and Furnace Co. in the office as an accounting and payroll clerk and then went to work at Upjohn. She married her high school sweetheart Larry K. Adams in 1951 and they moved to a Navy base at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, N.J. She worked for the N.J. Natural Gas Co. until their first son was born. Wilda then became a stay at home mom and did not work outside their home until all 4 sons graduated from high school. She then worked as a dental receptionist until she retired in 1984.
Wilda was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who loved being with her children and grandchildren, hosting family get togethers, traveling and the oldies but goodies music of the big band era. She loved doing crafts, sewing, cooking, quilting, decorating cakes, gardening, fishing, reading and helping her husband with the Boy Scouts as a Den Mother. Wilda was always ready to lend a helping hand when needed.
Surviving are her sons, Michael (Theresa Swedo) of Chugiak, Alaska, Gary (Christine) of Plainwell, John (Carolyn Harden) of Richland and Mark (Brenda) of Pine Lake; 3 grandchildren, Mark (Shanda) Rouse, Amanda (Doug) Peterson and Kyle Adams; 6 great- grandchildren; her sibling, Joann (Gerald) Dillow and Hubert Bourland and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Larry in 2004, her parents and siblings, Myron, Dean, Willard, Charlie and Bobby Bourland, Loretta Sorensen and Emigene Walters.
Friends may visit with Wilda’s family starting at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at the Otsego United Methodist Church until the time of the funeral service at 3:00 P.M. with Pastor Joe Shaler officiating.
Cremation will follow.
Burial of ashes will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta.
Contributions in memory of Wilda may be made to Christian Neighbors or the
American Diabetes Association
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Wilda N. Adams
Condolence Messages
Randy and Linda Taft
September 15, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to your family.
Reply
Larry & Kathi Fuss
September 15, 2016 at 6:38 pm
Sending thoughts and prayers for your family, Gary and Chris!! So sorry for your loss!
Reply
Rebecca Chester
September 16, 2016 at 7:18 am
So very sorry for your loss. She was an amazing woman, willing to help all those in need. She was an integral part of my life for many years. Love and hugs to the family.
Reply
Mike and Lisa Smith
September 16, 2016 at 7:57 am
Gary, Chris and families. So sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers
Reply
Roy and Gail Powers
September 16, 2016 at 11:05 am
Our thoughts and prayers are being sent. Keep all the good memories close to your heart.
Reply
Roger and Jamie Austin
September 16, 2016 at 1:13 pm
I still have fond memories as a kid starting out in the scouting program and being in your mom’s cub scout den. She set the stage for many more memorable experience’s and adventures scouting with the Adam’s family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys!
Reply
Paul Matusiak
September 16, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Very sorry to hear this, Wilda was a wonderful lady!
Reply
Mrs. Jim (Patti) Hewitt
September 16, 2016 at 3:24 pm
So sorry to learn about Wilda. I remember seeing her at The Fly Inn restaurant and her little dog Suzy Q waiting for her in her car. She loved that little dog and later adopted another she named Peanut because she missed Suzy Q. So sorry for your loss. Wilda was a sweetheart. My heart goes out to you in you loss.
Reply
Robin Wahl
September 16, 2016 at 4:17 pm
I am so glad I got to know Wilda. I enjoyed hearing her talk about her life and memories. She was a good-hearted person with a great sense of humor and love for all her family and friends. I’m sure she will be greatly missed. My love and thoughts for the family.
Reply
Marilyn abernathy
September 16, 2016 at 9:59 pm
A very sad day hearing the news my dear sweet Wilda passed! I have known Wilda and her family since I was a little girl and always loved chasing the fireflies down by the creek at her house with the boys and later in life visiting with her and Larry whenever I ran into them and the many meals we shared at the Fly Inn! I loved seeing her and she loved seeing me! Many special family memories! R.I.P. Sweet Wilda!
Reply
Mary & Mike Peckhem
September 17, 2016 at 9:45 am
Gary, Chris, Amanda, Kyle and the entire Adams families….our hearts go out to you and we are truly sorry for your loss. We pray that God will wrap his loving arms around all of you during this difficult time. God Bless you all.
Reply
Terry and Lori Steele
September 17, 2016 at 5:22 pm
John and family sorry for your loss. Thinking of you.
Reply
VanDenBerg Families
September 17, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Wilda Adams Families Thinking of you and sending prayers to all.
Reply
Glenna/Paul Palmer
September 18, 2016 at 6:02 pm
Surprised to read of Wilda’s passing in the Shopper today. We hadn’t seen her for quite some time and would definitely have visited her at Rose Arbor had we known she was ill. She was a lovely lady; we enjoyed her company and we were happy to call her our friend. We had many of nice conversations where she talked lovingly of her children, and how good they were to her. And, about her grandchildren and great grandchildren – how proud she was of them. Seemed family was very important to her; not to mention her little dog. She will be remembered with a smile. xxoo
Reply
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She began her life on a farm in Dongola, IL on February 10, 1932, the daughter of Harvey and Catherine (Cook) Bourland. Due to her mother’s illness at 3 months she went to live with her paternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Arminda and Eli Short. She started first grade at the age of 4 and walked 2 miles to the country school. When she was 12 they moved to a farm between Otsego and Plainwell. Wilda graduated from Otsego High School in 1949. At age 18 she went to work for the Kalamazoo Stove and Furnace Co. in the office as an accounting and payroll clerk and then went to work at Upjohn. She married her high school sweetheart Larry K. Adams in 1951 and they moved to a Navy base at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, N.J. She worked for the N.J. Natural Gas Co. until their first son was born. Wilda then became a stay at home mom and did not work outside their home until all 4 sons graduated from high school. She then worked as a dental receptionist until she retired in 1984.
Wilda was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who loved being with her children and grandchildren, hosting family get togethers, traveling and the oldies but goodies music of the big band era. She loved doing crafts, sewing, cooking, quilting, decorating cakes, gardening, fishing, reading and helping her husband with the Boy Scouts as a Den Mother. Wilda was always ready to lend a helping hand when needed.
Surviving are her sons, Michael (Theresa Swedo) of Chugiak, Alaska, Gary (Christine) of Plainwell, John (Carolyn Harden) of Richland and Mark (Brenda) of Pine Lake; 3 grandchildren, Mark (Shanda) Rouse, Amanda (Doug) Peterson and Kyle Adams; 6 great- grandchildren; her sibling, Joann (Gerald) Dillow and Hubert Bourland and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Larry in 2004, her parents and siblings, Myron, Dean, Willard, Charlie and Bobby Bourland, Loretta Sorensen and Emigene Walters.
Friends may visit with Wilda’s family starting at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at the Otsego United Methodist Church until the time of the funeral service at 3:00 P.M. with Pastor Joe Shaler officiating.
Cremation will follow.
Burial of ashes will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta.
Contributions in memory of Wilda may be made to Christian Neighbors or the
American Diabetes Association
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of Wilda N. Adams
Condolence Messages
Randy and Linda Taft
September 15, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to your family.
Reply
Larry & Kathi Fuss
September 15, 2016 at 6:38 pm
Sending thoughts and prayers for your family, Gary and Chris!! So sorry for your loss!
Reply
Rebecca Chester
September 16, 2016 at 7:18 am
So very sorry for your loss. She was an amazing woman, willing to help all those in need. She was an integral part of my life for many years. Love and hugs to the family.
Reply
Mike and Lisa Smith
September 16, 2016 at 7:57 am
Gary, Chris and families. So sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers
Reply
Roy and Gail Powers
September 16, 2016 at 11:05 am
Our thoughts and prayers are being sent. Keep all the good memories close to your heart.
Reply
Roger and Jamie Austin
September 16, 2016 at 1:13 pm
I still have fond memories as a kid starting out in the scouting program and being in your mom’s cub scout den. She set the stage for many more memorable experience’s and adventures scouting with the Adam’s family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys!
Reply
Paul Matusiak
September 16, 2016 at 2:20 pm
Very sorry to hear this, Wilda was a wonderful lady!
Reply
Mrs. Jim (Patti) Hewitt
September 16, 2016 at 3:24 pm
So sorry to learn about Wilda. I remember seeing her at The Fly Inn restaurant and her little dog Suzy Q waiting for her in her car. She loved that little dog and later adopted another she named Peanut because she missed Suzy Q. So sorry for your loss. Wilda was a sweetheart. My heart goes out to you in you loss.
Reply
Robin Wahl
September 16, 2016 at 4:17 pm
I am so glad I got to know Wilda. I enjoyed hearing her talk about her life and memories. She was a good-hearted person with a great sense of humor and love for all her family and friends. I’m sure she will be greatly missed. My love and thoughts for the family.
Reply
Marilyn abernathy
September 16, 2016 at 9:59 pm
A very sad day hearing the news my dear sweet Wilda passed! I have known Wilda and her family since I was a little girl and always loved chasing the fireflies down by the creek at her house with the boys and later in life visiting with her and Larry whenever I ran into them and the many meals we shared at the Fly Inn! I loved seeing her and she loved seeing me! Many special family memories! R.I.P. Sweet Wilda!
Reply
Mary & Mike Peckhem
September 17, 2016 at 9:45 am
Gary, Chris, Amanda, Kyle and the entire Adams families….our hearts go out to you and we are truly sorry for your loss. We pray that God will wrap his loving arms around all of you during this difficult time. God Bless you all.
Reply
Terry and Lori Steele
September 17, 2016 at 5:22 pm
John and family sorry for your loss. Thinking of you.
Reply
VanDenBerg Families
September 17, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Wilda Adams Families Thinking of you and sending prayers to all.
Reply
Glenna/Paul Palmer
September 18, 2016 at 6:02 pm
Surprised to read of Wilda’s passing in the Shopper today. We hadn’t seen her for quite some time and would definitely have visited her at Rose Arbor had we known she was ill. She was a lovely lady; we enjoyed her company and we were happy to call her our friend. We had many of nice conversations where she talked lovingly of her children, and how good they were to her. And, about her grandchildren and great grandchildren – how proud she was of them. Seemed family was very important to her; not to mention her little dog. She will be remembered with a smile. xxoo
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
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