Obituary of Lillian Margaret Wiese

Lillian Margaret Wiese was born January 23, 1928, in Denver, to Anna (nee Malich) and Walter Dillard. Growing up in the Globeville neighborhood of north Denver, she was raised by her mother, her grandmother, and her Aunt Mary Radovich. She attended Manuel High School. She was scheduled to graduate in 1947 but she left school early to join one of the many dance bands that flourished after World War II as a singer. She toured the northeast and the east coast for a few years with the band. Tiring of the long hours and constant travel, and having failed to find stardom as a singer, she returned to Denver and accepted a sales and administrative position with Gano Downs, an upscale clothier located at 16^th and Stout Street in downtown.

She met Russell Wiese in 1955. They fell in love and married on June 2, 1956. They were blessed with 2 sons, Russell who was born in 1957, and Bill who was born in 1959. Additionally, she welcomed her stepson, Danny, into the family. She was always happy that, until the end of her life, Danny still called her “mom”. The family moved into a beautiful house in central Lakewood in 1959 which would remain her home for 35 years. Her son Bill met and fell in love with Doris Schmidt. They married in 1989 and gave her 3 beautiful and incredible grandchildren, Eric, Andy, and Emma, who were the lights of her life – she loved them endlessly.

Tragically, her husband Russell passed away in October 1978, and in an effort to keep busy after his passing, she returned to the workforce on a part-time basis working for Olinger Mortuary and for the Stevenson Automotive dealerships in Golden. Prior to his death, Russ and Lil were very active in the Lakewood Elks Club for many years and, after his passing, she continued to work the dance door and the coat check room well into her 70’s. Her son Russell passed away in 2002.

One of her passions was dancing - she danced her whole life through and never missed an opportunity to take a whirl on the dance floor. One of her favorite stories was that, while attending a Lawrence Welk band concert at the Trocadero ballroom at Elitch Gardens, she taught Lawrence Welk to dance the jitterbug and he taught her to waltz.

In her later years, she was a resident of Eaton Senior Community in Lakewood where she lived quietly enjoying visits by her grandchildren and by her “grand dog”, Woody. Her long and loving life, which spanned the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Space Age, and the beginning of the 21^st century, came to a quiet and peaceful end on June 9, 2023.

Lillian was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Russell, her son Russell, and her brothers Ernest Dillard and Ralph Barker. She is survived by her son, Bill and his wife, Doris, and her grandchildren Eric, Andy, and Emma. She is also survived by her stepson, Danny, and his family, extended family including many nieces and nephews, and by a few long-time and loving friends.

We love you so much mom and grandma, and we will miss you forever!

Services will be Saturday, June 17^th at noon at the All Veterans Funeral and Cremation care chapel located at 1338 South Jason Street in Denver. If you would like, please make donations to Elevation Hospice at 7850 Vance Drive, Suite 230, Arvada, CO 80003. Thank you!