Donald E. Wilder, Sr., age 89, devoted husband, father and grandfather passed on Friday, July 24, 2020 surrounded by loving family at his home.

Donald was born in Nassauville, FL, and was the son of the late Joseph Earl and Doris Wilder, and was a lifelong resident of Fernandina Beach, Florida where he passed.

He spent his life in Fernandina Beach where he was a proud member and letterman of the Fighting Pirates high school football team and later had a successful career at Container Corporation of America where he served as a supervisor. He retired from the mill after 38 years of employment in 1987. Donald was a loyal Florida Gator Football fan and was a booster club member for many years. He attended every game whether it was home or away and would travel for bowl games. He enjoyed working outdoors with his hands and everyday could be found on the tractor, in the garden or splitting and stacking firewood.

Donald was a hardworking man and was proud of everything that he accomplished during his lifetime. Even though Donald�s family�s working legacy was centered on the Fernandina shrimping industry, he chose to make his own path in life which was a character trait that he always employed. After High School he joined the United State Air Force during the Korean War and quickly earned the position of Staff Sergeant. He was extremely proud of his military service where he worked as a mechanic on the B-36 Peacemaker Bombers, one of the largest airplanes ever built. He was asked to attend officer�s school, but his heart called him back home to Fernandina where he created a very loving and close-knit family.

Donald was the Epitome of the term �Family man�. Donald had the rare pleasure of being the patriarch of a family consisting of 11. Everything he did in life was geared around the cultivation of a loving and hardworking family. One of his biggest pleasures was being with his family each summer at Walt Disney�s Fort Wilderness Campground and Strickland�s Landing on Kingsley Lake. Donald supported his wife�s lifelong service in the Eastern Stars whole heartedly. He loved each of his total of eight sons and steps sons and would do anything for any of them. He adored his loving wife, Joann, and his daughter Donna more than life itself. Another one of his greatest pleasures was playing tricks on his family and friends. Donald had a very clever and whimsical sense of humor and he never missed an opportunity to make someone smile and laugh with a joke or a comical gesture.

He is preceded in death by his three sons Harold Wilder, James Wilder and Christopher Wilder, one stepson Glenn Huls, one grandson Glenn Huls Jr. and his only brother in law Frank Acosta.

He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 48 years JoAnn Peters Wilder; his only daughter Donna Wilder Hafner (Jonathan) of Jacksonville, Florida, his two sons Donald Wilder Jr (Sherry) of Fernandina Beach, Florida and Robert Wilder (Susan) of Palm Bay, Florida, his two step sons Dale Huls (Mary) of De Kalb, Texas and Michael Huls of Fernandina Beach, Florida; his only sister Norma Acosta of Fernandina Beach, Florida; 13 grandchildren, Allison and Owen Hafner of Jacksonville, Florida, Sandra (Rob) Healey of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Heather (Kasey) Thomas of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Robyn (Eric) Scott of Viera, Florida, Ryan Wilder of Gainesville, Florida, Jonathan (Genny) Tannehill of Houston, Texas, Caitlin Huls of Austin, Texas, James Huls of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Charles Huls of Fernandina Beach, Florida, Brain (Brandy) Huls of Kings Ferry (Hilliard), Florida, and William Huls of Fernandina Beach, Florida. He is also survived by nine great grandchildren and an extremely extensive extended family.

His family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home.

He will be laid to rest in a family graveside service in Bosque Bello Cemetery.