Funeral held for retired West Union chiropractor

Dr. Wilbur D. Bigler, 68, of West Union died Saturday, March 23, 2013, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Solon.

  Funeral services were held Friday, March 29, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust (rural Decorah).  The Rev. Nancy Solomonson officiated. 

Interment was in Locust Cemetery, Locust (rural Decorah). Military rites were conducted by Helof Holm VFW Chapter 1977 of Decorah. Casket bearers were Robert Bigler, Gordon Ellingson, Ricky Bigler, Rodney Houck, Dennis Bigler, James Wedo, and Hubert Ellingson.

Arrangements were handled by Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, Decorah.

Wilbur Dennis Bigler was born Aug. 18, 1944, to Elmer and Tilvina (Ellingson) Bigler in Decorah.    

He was baptized Sept. 10, 1944, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust.  

Wilbur graduated from Decorah High School in 1962 and later served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam.  

On Dec. 3, 1966, he married Beth Gaffney at Calmar Lutheran Church. The couple later divorced. 

Wilbur graduated from the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport in 1975. He owned and operated Bigler Chiropractic Clinic in West Union from 1975 until his retirement in August 2011.  

In addition to riding his motorcycle, Wilbur enjoyed hunting deer and duck, fishing, and bowling league on Wednesdays.   He also enjoyed vacationing with his family when the kids were younger.

Wilbur was a member of the West Union Lions Club and the West Union Chamber of Commerce. 

Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers, Kermit Bigler in 1969 and Kenneth Bigler in 2005; and a brother-in-law, Tom Ellingson in 2005.

Wilbur is survived by his three children, Cindy (Bill) Bergman of Dallas, Texas, Mark Bigler of Washington, and Jeanette Bigler of Atlanta, Ga.; two sisters,  Ethel Ellingson and Ellen (Douglas) Dickman, both of Decorah; three brothers, Roger (Evelyn) Bigler, George Bigler and David (Colleen) Bigler, all of Decorah; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.