Wilma Marno Bucklin

Wilma Marno (Craig) Bucklin left this world peacefully Jan. 10, 2017, surrounded by her family, exactly five months before her 96th birthday. She was born in Indiana, the youngest of five to Charles and Abigail Craig, June 10, 1921. She married Thomas Bucklin in 1938, and moved to Jasper County, where she lived most of her life except for some time in California and Wisconsin, where she became a life-long Packer fan who adored Aaron Rodgers. She would have loved the Packer/ NY Giants game Sunday.

Although she had only a 10th grade formal education, she was well read and was a strict grammarian. She loved words and crosswords. Her favorite game was Scrabble and she was quick to challenge any attempted use of phony words. She was a life-long letter writer to many friends and to her children, who were scattered all over the country. She was interested in every aspect of life and her letters often included articles snipped from the Des Moines Register or the Newton Daily News, with her snappy remarks penned along the margins.

Wilma loved Jesus, but was not really a fan of organized religion. She was a student of the Bible and often quoted from it to make a point. She was especially interested in the Book of Revelations and sometimes referred to “the signs” to explain deplorable conditions in the world. Her religion was an active one, revealed in acts of kindness and concern for others. She had a wonderful smile that was warm and calming. She understood adversity, but never let problems make her bitter.

Divorced at age 31 with nine children, she worked hard at menial jobs to insure that her children were well fed and cared for. The success of her children is testimony to Wilma’s success as a mother. Those children inherited her optimism, love of life, and her never-say-die attitude. She was the matriarch of her large family that gathered in her honor every two or three years for week-long family reunions in the Ozarks. Her clan would come from all over the country to participate.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Claude and Jim; two sisters, Marie and Opal; grandsons, David Jenkins, Alan Bucklin and Luke Bucklin; great-grandsons, Nathan, Nicholas and Noah Bucklin and Nick Mobley; three grandson infants, Gordon, Jason and Delbert Mobley; and sons-in-law, Jon Kelly (Jeanne), Delbert Teter (Dixie) and Ron White (Cheryle); and daughter-in law, Marilyn (Butch). Wilma is survived by all of her nine children, Larry (Jane), Butch, Cheryle White, Jeanne (Dave) Owens, Dixie Teter, Robert (Kathy), Marilyn (John) Homyk, Jane (Jim) Jenkins and Rick (Diane); and by an assembly of 34 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; and 18 great-great-grandchildren; plus nieces and nephews; and ex-daughters-in–law, MaryAnn (Larry) and Elaine (Butch). In addition, Wilma would have wanted to mention Martha, the wife of her ex-husband Tommy, and their three children, Marsha, Rita and Dean, all of whom remained welcomed to her inclusive, extended family. She was more on human relationship than on protocol.

Special thanks to Mercy Hospice in Johnston, for their loving and dedicated care of Wilma during her last few days on earth. Wilma requested that no service take place at her death. She chose to be cremated and interned privately next to her deceased grandson, David Jenkins, in the Newton Union Cemetery. There will be a public celebration of Wilma's life at a later date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org) or to Mercy Hospice (foundation.mercydesmoines.org). The Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the arrangements.