Jay Wildin

Jay Wildin, 89, of Winterset, passed away on February 16, 2023 at the Ramsey Village in Des Moines.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel. Funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Union Chapel Cemetery, Madison County. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Foundation to help fight Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.

Jay was born on March 26, 1933 to Edward and Alma (Krueger) Wildin in Council Bluffs, IA. He graduated from Winterset High School in 1951 and attended Iowa State University. He married Mary Brown in 1953 at the Early Chapel Church in Earlham. In his early days, Jay worked at O’Dea Chevrolet in Des Moines. Following this, he began his career in farming raising crops, cattle, pigs and sheep.

Jay was a member of the Winterset United Methodist Church, and was on the Farm Bureau Board. He was big in conservation efforts with farming and won a conservation award for his use of ridge till farming.

He enjoyed water skiing, camping, fishing and riding trails in the Jeep. He and Mary took the kids on a trip every year growing up and always stayed off the grid, camping in the stock trailer many times. He also loved to wheel and deal on farm implements whether he was selling or buying. Jay was a loving husband, caring for his wife, Mary, for many years when her health declined. He loved his family and introduced all of his grandkids to ice cold Pepsi and black licorice.

Jay is survived by his daughters, Vicki (Bob) Martin, Sandy (Ray) Parker, and Rae Jean (Grant) McDonald; daughter-in-law, Patty Wildin; brother, Jack Wildin; sister, Carol (Tom) Bass; grandchildren, Matt McDonald, Nick McDonald, Brad Parker, Josh Allen, Jordan Martin, Mike Wildin, Ryan Wildin, Ricky Wildin, Jennifer Frease, Renee Neuenkirk, Carly Parker, Randi Parker, and Tosha Abbott; 28 great grandchildren with 4 more on the way; and 1 great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; parents, Ed and Alma; son, Mike Wildin; sister-in-law, Janice Wildin; and great grandchildren, Marcella Martin and Lucas Abbott.