Paul L. “Skeeter” Wilber passed away May 16, 2024, at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, at the age of 95 years.
Skeeter was born on October 14, 1928, in Paton, to Viola Hansen Wilber and Roy Wilber. He was raised by his Aunt Ester and Uncle Paul Pemble after his mother died in 1933, and he always felt so lucky to have them as his surrogate parents. He lived in Pilot Mound and Bagley until he was in his early teens, when his aunt and uncle moved to Los Angeles for work. He loved watching the archeologists dig up dinosaur bones from the La Brea Tar Pits, as he lived nearby.
The family moved to Jefferson, where he graduated from Jefferson High School in 1946. He enlisted in the US Army toward the end of World War II and spent 19 months in Korea and military service as a staff sergeant. Afterward, Skeeter became an auto mechanic, owning his own garage in Jefferson for 30 of his 45 years in that profession.
He met Doreen Hansen, the love of his life, in high school, and they married on May 20, 1951. They were married 57 years until her death in 2008. Traveling, spending time with friends, and shooting archery with dear friends and family were some of their most loved activities. He was Doreen’s one and only archery coach as she started competing in 1966, and when she won the gold medal in the 1972 Munich Olympics, he was very proud of her. Skeeter and Doreen taught archery to many children in Greene County and loved every moment. Skeeter was on the Greene County Conservation Board, hunted, fished, participated in shooting sports, and was heavily involved in black powder shoots. He was interested in everything and loved passing on his knowledge to anyone who wanted to learn. He was an amazing artist who created detailed wood carvings and scrimshaw, built bows and guns and other items that interested him, and loved using all sorts of mediums to carve.
Skeeter is preceded in death by his mother and father; Aunt and Uncle Pemble; wife Doreen; brother- and sister-in-law, Elden and Veva Hansen; and mother-in-law Iola Hansen Schilling. Left to cherish his memory are nieces Kathy Marsh, Karen Weyant, and Karel Obenauf, and a multitude of “kids” that he and Doreen called their own. He will be missed by many but never forgotten.
Interment will be at the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.sliningerschroeder.com.
