Louise Nunn Wildeman

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.

Obituary

Louise passed away at age 83 of dementia. She had been a resident of Golden Pond Memory Care since January 2026.

Survived by her husband Thomas Wildeman and her beloved children, Brian Wildeman of Chicago and Debbie Cleek (Todd) of Portland, OR, and her grandchildren Bette Wildeman and Rudy Wildeman.

Louise was born on April 13, 1943 in New Jersey, where she grew up. She graduated with Distinction from Smith College in 1964 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She earned a Masters Degree from University of Wisconsin in Madison in Teaching in 1965. After graduating she taught at Randall School in Madison.

Louise married Thomas in 1965 and moved with him to Golden. Colorado in 1967 when he accepted a professorship at the Colorado School of Mines in Chemistry and Geochemistry. She fell in love with Colorado and she and Thomas remained in Golden for the rest of her life. 

A homemaker while she raised her children, Louise volunteered with the Girl Scouts, International Students at Mines, and at the University of Colorado - Museum of Ceramics Laboratory where she completed a comprehensive study of miniature Anasazi vessels. 

In 1982 she joined the Career Center at the Colorado School of Mines and served for 20 years assisting graduates in obtaining successful employment. In 1991 she became the Advisor for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and helped the chapter grow into one of the largest in the country. In 2006 she was awarded the Mines Medal for Exemplary Service as an honor for her work with SWE.

After retirement in 2002 Louise "cultivated her spirit" by becoming a botanical illustration artist, a wildflower photographer, and a student of poetry by studying and memorizing poetry and writing poems of her own. She also took up many study projects that intrigued her. She wrote up her journals from 20 years of backpacking trips in Utah with her women friends and compiled them into a book called Canyon Call. She enjoyed a wide variety of friends - especially by walking and hiking with them. She loved to cook and entertain friends.

Her love of nature and poetry became her spiritual nourishment. Outdoor activities with her family were a great joy. She and Thomas indulged in many overseas travels, frequently focused on archaeology, flowers and hiking, and most often in the Mediterranean area. She believed herself one of the luckiest women ever because of the constant loving support of her beloved husband Thomas. 

Text box

You can use this additional text box to add more stories about your loved one, tell about the family, share information about the funeral service, etc.

Gallery

Memory wall

Service

Donate