Debra ‘Deb’ Wiltse, of Fremont, Ohio
June 12, 1960-Oct. 13, 2019
Niles Daily Star, Published 8:46 am Thursday, October 17, 2019
June 12, 1960 — Oct. 14, 2019
Debra “Deb” J. Wiltse, 59, of Fremont, Ohio, formerly of Niles, passed away unexpectedly at her residence of natural causes on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019.
She was born in Benton Harbor to the late Gerry R. and Patsy J. (Barlow) Sisk.
Deb graduated from Brandywine High School and worked managing the local McDonalds for many years.
On Aug. 27, 2005, she married Brad Wiltse at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Niles. In 2010, the couple relocated to Fremont, Ohio, which was a perfect place for Deb who was an amusement park and roller coaster enthusiast, her last trip to her favorite roller coaster, Cedar Point, being the day before she passed. She was currently working as a scale operator for Bunge, a soybean processing plant.
Deb enjoyed going on trips and new adventures. Deb adored her cats and was an avid University of Michigan fan. She liked quiet times working on jigsaw puzzles and attending concerts with music blasting. Deb was an advocate for others; she was selfless and giving, spoke her mind but had big heart. Deb was a strong-willed person who beat lung cancer and had been cancer free for 13 years. Deb’s love and passion was reserved for her family, who she fiercely protected and fought for above all things. They always came first. She was the family organizer and planned events to keep them all close. Deb was many things to many people, and her absence will leave an incredible void.
She is preceded in passing by her beloved mother, Patsy J. Bankston.
Deb leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Brad Wiltse, of Fremont, Ohio; her children, Shawn Sisk, of Porter, Indiana, Michael (Jessica) Grant, of Elkhart, and Jennifer Isabell, of Osceola; her seven grandchildren, all whom she loved deeply; her dad (step-father), Gary Bankston, of Niles; and her siblings; Jerry Sisk, of Michigan, and Sherrie (Dennis) Reinking, of Osceola, and those she considered sisters; Margaret, of Elkhart, and her cousin, Terri Sisk, of Niles. Deb will also be missed by the countless lives she has touched.
A time of visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct, 18, 2019, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 601 Sycamore St., in Niles, with Pastor Ray Fulbright officiating. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Deb’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
Memories of Deb may be shared with her family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.