Memorial Services for Robert Wilder will be held Friday, September 15, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Hooper & Weaver Mortuary, 459 Hollow Way, Nevada City.

Robert (aka Bob) Wilder passed away at his home of 64 ½ years in Grass Valley, CA on August 18th , with his wife Arlene, also known as Warden, her nickname given by Bob many years ago, and their three children and a grandson by his side, under the care of Hospice.

January 19, 1931 Bob was born to Willard and Sylvia (Jones) Wilder in Marysville, California where the family lived until moving to Grass Valley, California in 1942. In Grass Valley, Bob attended local schools and graduated from Grass Valley High Class of 1949. After graduating, he joined the Air Force and was discharged in 1951.

Bob met Arlene in high school and dated for two years before getting married April 7, 1951 leading to 72 years of marriage. Bobs life experienced many occupations. In his youth, he delivered newspapers, did many odd jobs, and picked fruit alongside his parents during the depression years. As an adult, he was a compositor in the printing business working for various newspapers, also being a partner in the printing of an advertising paper business, the owner of Wilders Well Drilling and Pump Business, getting his general contractors license, and with friend John Siegfried, building homes in the area. In 1972, Bob became a Nevada County Supervisor for District Two of Nevada County for nine years. In 1985 he received his Real Estate license working for Mackey Reality and Dottie Ray Reality.

The most important job Bob had was building up the Wilder Ranch for his family. Bob and Warden bought the Wheeler Ranch in 1958. With hard work, clearing and improving the land and orchards it became what it is today. Bob and family worked the apple and pear orchards, put in hay fields, and raised animals. In 1977 they planted 10 acres of grapes (Chardonnay and Cabernet 5 acres each) for selling and personal wine making. In 1990 the south side fields were subdivided to what is now known as Rogue House Place.

Bob belonged to many organizations. The ones we know of are the Native Sons of the Golden West, The Order of Red Men, Nevada City Elks, The Frank Gallino Post 130 of the American Legion, The Loggers Association, NRA along with a monthly card game with friends for many years and the Saturday morning breakfast friends who met for many, many years. Yes, Bob was very social and had many interests in the area of history and mining.

Bob is survived by his wife Warden (aka Arlene) daughter Laureen Price and family, son John, Debbie (Williams) Wilder and family, daughter Melisa Wilder and family, brother Richard (Karen) Wilder, Sister-n-laws Jean Rakich and Maria Elena Wilder, 20 Grandchildren, 33 Great Grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He’s preceded in death his parents, in-laws, sisters Delores Gemmill, Dorothy Hoffman and Doris Penaluna, brother Ron Wilder, grandchildren Zachary Mabbett, Karen Price Hannum and Jana Price.

In lieu of flowers make a donation to your favorite charity or Hospice of the Foothills or Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley in memory of Bob.