- Born on: November 18, 1954
- Departed on: April 2, 2025
- Resided in: Marion, IA
Elaine Marie DeGrande
With heavy hearts we must announce that on April 2, 2025, Elaine Marie DeGrande passed unexpectedly of natural causes in her Iowa home at age 70.
Elaine was born on November 18, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Theresa (Kolis) and Clifford B. DeGrande. She and three siblings grew up in the Bridgeton area of St. Louis County. She was a Campfire Girl and liked to babysit, even special needs children. She crafted keepsakes in ceramics classes and sang in various choirs and choral groups over many years. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1973, and Missouri College of Medical Assistants. She was employed at St. Charles Clinic and Medicare-Glaser Corporate Offices, which became Express Scripts.
She met Dallas Wilkinson over 20 years ago and moved to Jerseyville, Illinois area where they lived. They settled near Greenfield, Illinois and she worked for Home Health Care at the State of Illinois. Almost eight years ago they married in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. They moved to Marion, Iowa to be closer to Dallas’s children and grandchildren.
Elaine nurtured her three pet birds, enjoyed feeding hummingbirds and watching deer and other wildlife on the backyard grassland. She was fond of springtime and autumn drives to see the colorful countryside.
Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, many aunts, uncles, and a few cousins. She is survived by one aunt, Margaret, who is 102 years young along with many cousins; siblings, Diane Sullivan, Ronald DeGrande and Monica Rice of Troy, Missouri; two nieces, two nephews, three great nieces, one great nephew and a baby great- great niece. She is missed by extended family and friends.
Elaine will be laid to rest in Our Lady Cemetery at Lake Saint Louis. A celebration of life will be planned in the future.
Elaine was born on November 18, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Theresa (Kolis) and Clifford B. DeGrande. She and three siblings grew up in the Bridgeton area of St. Louis County. She was a Campfire Girl and liked to babysit, even special needs children. She crafted keepsakes in ceramics classes and sang in various choirs and choral groups over many years. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1973, and Missouri College of Medical Assistants. She was employed at St. Charles Clinic and Medicare-Glaser Corporate Offices, which became Express Scripts.
She met Dallas Wilkinson over 20 years ago and moved to Jerseyville, Illinois area where they lived. They settled near Greenfield, Illinois and she worked for Home Health Care at the State of Illinois. Almost eight years ago they married in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. They moved to Marion, Iowa to be closer to Dallas’s children and grandchildren.
Elaine nurtured her three pet birds, enjoyed feeding hummingbirds and watching deer and other wildlife on the backyard grassland. She was fond of springtime and autumn drives to see the colorful countryside.
Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, many aunts, uncles, and a few cousins. She is survived by one aunt, Margaret, who is 102 years young along with many cousins; siblings, Diane Sullivan, Ronald DeGrande and Monica Rice of Troy, Missouri; two nieces, two nephews, three great nieces, one great nephew and a baby great- great niece. She is missed by extended family and friends.
Elaine will be laid to rest in Our Lady Cemetery at Lake Saint Louis. A celebration of life will be planned in the future.
