June 'De' Wilbur

JUNE DELIGHTE (ROBERTS) WILBUR

Fairfield

June DeLighte (Roberts) Wilbur, 77, affectionally known to her family and friends as "De," passed away peacefully Friday evening, Oct. 16, 2020, at the Indianola Good Samaritan Society with her family at her bedside. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Peterson Funeral Home in Indianola with visitation beginning one hour prior at 10 a.m. The memorial service will be livestreamed. A link will be available at www.petersonfuneralservice.com on Saturday, prior to the service. Burial will immediately follow the service at I.O.O.F Cemetery in Indianola. A luncheon and gathering will be held at the Peterson Funeral Home immediately following burial.

De was born June 3, 1943, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Loren and Norma (Talbott) Roberts. She lived her childhood days on a farm north of Fairfield. Life was always full of excitement and adventure for De growing up as a farm girl, including the time she and her family survived the tornado that hit the farmhouse with the family huddled in the stairway closet.

De graduated from Pleasant Plain High School in 1961. After graduation, De left the farm and rural Southeast Iowa and moved to Des Moines and began work for Look magazine and would meet the love of her life and future husband.

On Dec. 12, 1964, De was united in marriage to Ronald J. Wilbur. De was a devoted and loving wife to Ron for over 54 years until his death in May 2019. During their marriage, Ron and De raised their three sons for whom she was most proud of. Throughout her adult life, she lived in Milo, Indianola and Carlisle.

In the summer of 1973, De hosted a foreign exchange student from Japan. The young lady's name was Noriko Enchi. She commented often that having Noriko stay that summer was one the many highlights of her life and De remained in contact with her throughout the years.

De was an avid reader spending countless hours immersed in a good book. She loved to cook and was never afraid to try out a new recipe or how her boys put it "an experiential concoction" for Ron and the boys to enjoy. De also found joy in volunteering for Warren County senior citizens by helping at the Carlisle senior meal site. She was an active member of the Carlisle Christian Church.

De always would put others first before herself. She was a caregiver to many people throughout the years; always ensuring that her elderly neighbors and friends were always looked after, inviting people to the house on the holidays when they had no other place to go, and most important was her caring for her Mother in her later years.

De is survived by her sons, Greg (Chris) Wilbur of Indianola, Jim (Elizabeth) Wilbur of Des Moines and Joe (Julie) Wilbur of Carlisle; sister, Phyllis Lilischkies of San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico; brother, Larry (Becky) Roberts of Fort Collins Colo.; her special niece, Michelle Martin of Delta, Colo.; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

De was preceded in death by her husband, Ron; parentsm Loren and Norma; and a brother, Paul.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in De's name to the Milo Public Library or the Kiya Koda Humane Society in Indianola. Online condolences can be made at www.petersonfuneralservice.com.