Donald L. Wilkins

Donald Laverne Wilkins, 82, of Cheyenne, passed on March 4, 2023, at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on March 14, 1940, in Torrington, WY to George Henry Wilkins and Gladys Galleta Fisk.
Don was an aircraft mechanic for the Wyoming Air National Guard for over 40 years. With the Guard he was able to travel to many countries and provided support in Vietnam and Korea. He made many longtime friends with the Guard that spanned the globe. In and around his Guard time, he worked at Taylor Pontiac, Wasserberger Chevrolet, and had his own auto repair shop, Big Don’s Auto Repair in Lusk, Wy. He grew up in Chugwater, WY in the Iowa Flats area and helped farm the family land. He was an avid fisherman and really enjoyed when he could go out on his pontoon boat and troll the lake. In his later years, he was able to at least fish and not have to take care of everyone else's bait and removing fish. Don was an avid supporter of NRA and the American Legion. He kept his mind sharp by playing computer games like crosswords, hearts and others. Don was always game for a round of cribbage and pinochle. He and his wife, Pat, always had some sort of pet around, whether it was a couple dogs to an entire zoo. He loved Boston Terriers and his current buddy, Hondo, misses him dearly.
He is survived by his son, Tim Wilkins (Colleen) Wilkins; daughters, Terry Hartz (Ron) and Tammy Wilkins (Barry Foster); grandchildren, Kiah (Danny) Staley, Ben (Amanda) Hartz, Ashley Hartz and Josh (Erika) Hardin, Darby (Marlon) Blaize; great grandchildren, Rosemary Staley, Eleanor Staley, Rowan Hartz-Ross, Alejandra (Allie) Blaize and Lilith Hartz; sister, Delores (Don) Rebling; and several nieces and nephews.
Don was preceded in death by his loving wife Pat Wilkins; grandsons Ken Joel Hardin and Kyle Henry Wilkins; brothers, Orvind Wilkins and Gerald Wilkins
Services will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, in Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. Interment will be at 3:30 pm, Monday, in Cheyenne Memorial Gardens.
A reception will follow the service at Cheyenne Hills The Barn, 7505 Lincoln Hwy, Cheyenne, WY 82001.
To send the family condolences please visit www.wrcfuneral.com