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Vera (Wildman) Weniger, 83

| August 6, 2020 1:00 AM

Vera (Wildman) Weniger, 83, of Coeur d’Alene, passed away June 7, 2020, at The Schneidmiller Hospice House of North Idaho, surrounded by family. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10 months earlier, she fought a good fight, right to the end.

She was born Feb. 14, 1937, in Ackmen, Colo., to Milford O. and Sarah E. (McCartney) Wildman. From Colorado the family moved to Utah before relocating to Coeur d’Alene, where she attended and graduated high school.

She met and married Jess M. Weniger Jr. and they had five children before moving to the Silver Valley. There they owned and operated the Smelterville Feed and Farm Supply store. She and Jess worked side by side for nearly 18 years, becoming a fixture in the community and making many lifelong friends.

After retiring she moved back to Coeur d’Alene where she enveloped herself in community. She served as an election judge, was an active member of the Mica Flats grange, and a member of the Happy Family Club, where she served in many roles over the years. She strived to put others and the wellbeing of the community over herself.

To many, Vera was known as the plant lady. Her passion for all things green fueled an extensive knowledge of identification, cultivation and nutrient requirements. Her legacy lives in the knowledge she shared through mentorship, newspaper articles, group presentations and nature walks.

Vera was preceded in death by her husband, Jess; daughter, Jo Reilly; parents, Milford and Sarah Wildman; brothers, Lester Wildman and Richard Wildman and sister, Lola Anderson.

Surviving her are children, Randal Weniger of Spokane, Wash.; Doug Weniger of Coeur d’Alene; Doris Plansky (Dale) of Wisconsin, and Launee Weniger (Mike Summers) of Nine Mile Falls, Wash.; and nine grandchildren, Natalie, Seth, Michael, Ericka, Joseph, Danya, Denette, Brenden and Kyle. Additionally, she is survived by eight great-grandchildren.

Interment will be at the Forest Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene. Due to COVID-19, no formal memorial services are planned.