Clear, 60° F
(Nov. 10, 1923 - Aug. 12, 2015)
Wilma Jean Gerber, 91, of Cody died at the Powell Valley Care Center on Aug. 12, 2015.
Wilma was born in Fairbury, Illinois, on Nov. 10, 1923, to Herman and Edna Shive; she was the first of four children.
She was raised on a farm in the Fairbury-Strawn area. Wilma married Irvin Gerber on Feb. 12, 1944, and they had six children. They raised their family on the farm in Illinois and in 1961 made a big change in life and moved to Cody. They bought a ranch near Cody where Wilma learned all about farming … including irrigating and rattle snakes.
After Irv’s death, Wilma moved to a quieter life in Cody. She was a talented artist and painted many milk cans and pictures with familiar outdoor scenes.
She is survived by her children Barbara (Larry) Schoening, Diana (Charlie) Smith, Dan Gerber, and Kathy (Mike) Nelson; sisters Marlene Moore and Beverly Rieger; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Charles “Bud” Shive, daughters Carol Pals and Anita Gerber, and her husband Irv.
Wilma was laid to rest next to Irv at Riverside Cemetery on Aug. 14.
