Longtime Orland-area resident John J. Wilder, Sr., died of cardiac arrest on Monday, July 11, 2022. He was born in Red Bluff to Henry Dewey and Clara Mildred Wilder on Dec. 4, 1944.
His family has made Tehama and Glenn Counties home for more than 100 years. John’s grandfather brought his young wife across the plains in a covered wagon.
Their descendants made their homes in Glenn, Tehama and Shasta Counties. Soon, annual Wilder reunions were held not only at the original homestead, Wilder Cabin in the Paskenta Mountains, but then at Bidwell Park and Woodson Bridge.
He worked for many years at Royce’s Tire & Muffler, then the Vereschagin Farms. His last place of employment before retiring to enjoy life was Sunsweet Dryers.
On June 5, 1989, he married Donna, and from that day forward he enjoyed exploring the United States, almost accomplishing his goal of driving to every state in the U.S. He tried to fill every moment, whether it was the horseback riding in Yellowstone Park with the grandkids or feeding bear cubs a bottle of milk while there.
He went out of his way to find new adventures. A highlight was a trip to Colorado for a cattle roundup, camping out without knowing if elk were going to come into camp and the thrill at the end of the day seeing the cattle rounded up.
His love of his paint horses was well known, as evidenced by the photo of his beloved APHA Champion Rhinestone Robin on his headstone.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; stepsons Marcus Vitchell of Arkansas and Scott James of California; step-grandchildren Makayla, Jessica and Austin James; daughters Tina of Texas and Kathy Bradshaw of Red Bluff; grandson Chris Wilder; granddaughter Chantel Roberts of Chico; three great-grandchildren; sister Clara Myers of Orland; nieces Cindy Hintz, Susie Winbolt, Mona Livingston, and Molly Cole, all of Orland; and nephew Fred Hintz of Ohio. John used to love to go into the Shell gas station, where his grandniece, Kelly Pihaylic of Orland, worked, because when she saw him she would yell, “Uncle Johnny!” and always took the time to ask how he was.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Dewey and Clara Mildred Wilder, who both died in Orland; son John who died in Red Bluff; brothers Eddy, who died in Idaho, Chuck, who died in Orland, and Bill, who also died in Orland; sister Leona Carroll who died in Orland; and nephew Tom Blunkall who also died in Orland.
No services are planned.
The Glenn County Observer 
Too bad his other grandson Skyler Ross was not mentioned….
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