Joseph Wilder Obituary, Joseph Wilder has passed away unexpectedly
Joseph Wilder Obituary, Death – On Sunday, November 20, 2022, at the age of 54, Corporal Joseph Richard “Joe” Wilder, who resided in the community of Portage, Michigan, fell dead suddenly at his house. On August 6, 1968 in the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Joe Wilder was born to his parents, Bernard Joseph and Mary Ada (Johnson) Wilder. Joe and his family relocated from Parchment to Portage when he was a young child. Joe spent his childhood in Portage and attended Loy Norrix High School until he graduated in 1987. Joe is now the proud possessor of an Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement from Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
He began his career as a law enforcement official with the South Haven Police Department, later moving on to the Dowagiac Police Department, and finally settling in with the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD). After 25 years of service with the British Columbia Police Department, he took his retirement in October of 2021. Joe held the positions of patrol officer, training officer, and corporal while working for the Vancouver Police Department (BCPD). Both the Bomb Squad and Downtown Liaison Officer for the BCPD were under his command throughout his time with the department. Following his retirement from the Boston College Police Department, Joe became a deputy with the Kalamazoo Sheriff Department and later served as a public safety officer for Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
On July 7, 2012, in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Battle Creek, Joseph Richard Wilder and Jennifer Anne Rocco exchanged vows of marriage and were joined together as husband and wife. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, who he married in Portage; son, Alex Joseph (Molly Keegan) Wilder of Kalamazoo; daughter, Mara Elise Wilder of Kalamazoo; his foster son whom he was in the process of adopting; two sisters, Sarah (Peter) Lovell of Mattawan and Elizabeth (David) Wright of Portage; stepfather, Tom (Pam Moore) Dormady of Richland; and several cousin His mother and father, as well as his sister Christine Hemingway, passed away before Joe.
Joe was a talented artist who spent much of his time photographing and painting with acrylics. Joe participated in football and ran hurdles when he was a younger guy. Joe was an adult who had several interests, including flying his drone, going fishing, and playing recreational hockey. Joe took great pleasure in attending all of his son’s hockey games and cheering him on at every turn. Joe’s passions included spending time with his dogs Zazu and Charlie as well as his many African Cichlids and seeing to their needs. He was a devoted follower of the football team at the University of Michigan and had a conflicted relationship with the Detroit Lions. Joe was meticulous about his home and yard, maintaining a spotless lawn and meticulously tending to the flowers and bushes in his garden.
Additionally, Joe was a huge enthusiast of putting up holiday decorations and was always up for a little friendly competition with his neighbors. Joe was someone who took delight in acquiring new skills and was well-versed in a diverse range of subjects. Because of his extensive knowledge and easygoing demeanor, Joe was an easy person to talk to and quickly became friends with a large number of people. He wore his emotions on his sleeve and was known to “overfill his bucket” in an effort to assist those who were in need. The people in Joe’s life could always count on him to be there for them in an honest and wholehearted manner. He was a wonderful and much-loved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and colleague.
His family and friends remember him fondly. Joe will be remembered for his larger-than-life demeanor and his unwavering eagerness to assist anyone, be they members of his own family, friends, or even complete strangers. At the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home and Cremation Care on Monday, November 28, 2022, friends and family will be received from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Following the reception, the Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. At ten o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church located in Battle Creek, a Christian burial Mass will be held in memory of the deceased.
Joseph Wilder Obituary, Death – On Sunday, November 20, 2022, at the age of 54, Corporal Joseph Richard “Joe” Wilder, who resided in the community of Portage, Michigan, fell dead suddenly at his house. On August 6, 1968 in the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Joe Wilder was born to his parents, Bernard Joseph and Mary…