Wayne Kevin Wilder, 70, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at his home in Jeffersonville, IN, with his close family present.

Wayne was born on June 16, 1955, in Louisville, KY. He was number 10, in a long line of 12 children. During Wayne’s early years he learned to love the outdoors, while camping and boating at Nolin Lake with his large family. He also spent many years in the Boy Scouts where he made it to the rank of Life Scout. Wayne met the love of his life, Denise, while attending Atherton High school. He and Denise were married shortly after graduation, and spent 49 years together before her passing in 2023. Wayne was a 40+ year employee of the University of Louisville where he worked as a plumber and later a Foreman. He, along the rest of the Wilders, had a love for playing music and singing. There was rarely, if ever, a family function that wasn’t full of guitars, and mandolins' playing, with singing, long into the night. Wayne truly loved those times above all, with his family and friends.

Wayne is survived by his 3 loving children: Phillip Wilder, Kevin Wilder (Shelby), and Melissa (Wilder) Bowman; his cherished grandchildren: Brandon, Allie, Kyle, Stacy, Jacob, Carson, Matthew, Brayden, Luke, and Madison. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lennie and Ruth Wilder; all of his brothers and sisters; many beloved friends, and additional family members. Most importantly, his loving wife Denise, whom he could not wait to be reunited with.