Jeronimo Wilmer

Ignacio resident Jeronimo Eliseo Wilmer, 84, died Monday, March 12, 2012, at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo. Mr. Wilmer was born September 30, 1927, in Ignacio, Colo., the son of John and Victoria (Salvador) Casias. Mr. Wilmer attended schools in Ignacio and at a young age, he had to start helping the family on the ranch. It was on the ranch that Mr. Wilmer began to learn many trades and excelled at all of them. He met and married Lola Manzanares on­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ January 15, 1949. During the late 1940's, early 1950's, Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer lived in Silverton and Jeronimo worked at the mine there. They returned to the Ignacio area and he worked many jobs, including Mesa Paving Company. In the 1980's, Mr. Wilmer also served on the Ignacio town council. He and his family liked to go camping, fishing and he went hunting whenever he could. Lola passed away in 2005, and when Jeronimo was around 60 years old, he decided to retire from his construction trade jobs. He enjoyed gardening and lawn work, and his family fondly recalls that he was a wonderful cook. They said, "He made the best red chili!" He also enjoyed watching the Colorado Rockies baseball team. Jeronimo was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Lola. He is survived by Wilfred Wilmer (son) of Littleton, Colo., Eddie Wilmer (son) of Littleton, Jerry Wilmer (son) of Ignacio, Mike Wilmer (son) of Denver, grandchildren: Dean Wilmer, Melinda Wilmer, Mandy Wheeler, Shannon Wilmer, Consuelo Wilmer, Amber Wilmer, Lorenzo Wilmer, eight great-grandchildren, Mary Gallegos (sister) of Ignacio, and other family members. Cremation will occur at Hood Mortuary Crematory in Durango. A rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 25, 2012, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Ignacio. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Monday, March 26, 2012, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Interment of ashes will take place afterward at Ignacio West Cemetery in Ignacio.