Wilbur L. Duemer

Wilbur Lee Duemer was born on 2 October 1930 in Beloit, and died on 9 November 2023 surrounded by his wife and children.

He is survived by his beloved wife and grade school pen pal, Carla Ruth (Donaldson) Duemer, married for 72 years. He is also survived by his son Dr. Lee S. Duemer of Lubbock, Texas, and his wife Dr. Maria Teresa Leos-Duemer; grandson Joshua Avram Lee Duemer, and his partner Alexandria Kirby of Knoxville, Tennessee and grandson Willem Josef Lee Duemer of Lubbock.

He is also survived by his daughter Peggy Carla (Duemer) Konieczski and her husband Mike Konieczski; grandson Dr. Ryan Lee Nichols and wife Dr. Amanda Marie (Page) Nichols and great-grandson Maxwell Ronald Lee Nichols; granddaughter Rachel Lauren Konieczski and her partner Brennan Brauer; and granddaughter Jennifer Larisa Konieczski and her partner Tristan Linthakhanh of South Beloit, Illinois.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents John (1904-1965) and Julia Dummer (1907-1966), and by his grandson, Josef Ephraim Lee Duemer (2004-2005).

He spent his childhood in Beloit and later Bonesteel, South Dakota. In 1947 at the age of 17, he left home to join the United States Navy in which he honorably served from 1947 to 1951, leaving with the rank of Petty Officer Third Class. He often referred to his service in the Navy as the “best four years” of his life. He joined the Navy to see the world, and he did. He visited both the U.S. east and west coasts, England, France, the Straight of Gibraltar, Italy, Greece, the Panama Canal, Japan, and China. 

On 8 December 1951, he married Carla Ruth Donaldson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After briefly living in Pittsburgh and Bonesteel, they settled in Rockford, Illinois in 1953 moving from Rockford to Rockton in 1974 then on to Roscoe in 1998.

He held a variety of jobs throughout his life, but it was always clear that his favorite work was as a husband and father, then later as a grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a skilled gardener who created memorable gardens wherever he lived. His love of gardening was inherited by all his descendants who will create beautiful places for future generations to learn to explore and appreciate nature. At his core, he was a devoted family man, and his quiet but steady and loving personality was an excellent example for us all. His dignity and resilience will be remembered by all who knew him and will help guide us forward as we mourn his death. His kindness, patience, and unconditional love made us all better people.

A private graveside service will be held on 13 November in Roscoe, Illinois.

As he would say, “Arrivederci!"

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