Harold Wiggers and Doreen Badger
Harold Robert Wiggers, 93, of Bellevue, WA, died on March 26, 2022. His wife, Doreen Badger, 88, died on March 31, 2022 after an extended time with Alzheimer’s. Harold had been her loving caretaker for the last few years. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 2nd, in Eldridge, IA, at the Wiggers family homestead.
Harold was born in Muscatine, IA on June 29, 1928 to Harold and Mildred (Zimmerman) Wiggers. He spent his youth in Eldridge, IA with his parents and 4 younger siblings. In 8th grade he won the state spelling bee and then graduated from Davenport High School in 1946. He was the first in his community to attend college, at Iowa State University, graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1953. Prior to going to college he worked 3 years at Eckermann Hardware, in Eldridge, and was also in ROTC in both high school and college. Immediately after college, to fulfill his 2-year military commitment, the Army Corps of Engineers sent him to Germany, along with his red convertible. It was there he met his first wife, Lore, later moving to New Jersey, and having two boys, Boris and Bruce.
Harold was employed by Exxon from 1953-1986, living in over 11 different countries, working on major installation and expansions of oil refineries. After retiring he was a consultant until 1993, living in Canada and Singapore. One of his younger co-workers said, “Harold had a deeper way of thinking, and had the ability to share wisdom with the next generation.” He used his retirement years volunteering for AARP Volunteer Tax Preparation for over 15 years, helping the community elderly and low income.
While working in London, he met Doreen Badger, and they were married in Nov-1986. Doreen was born and grew up in South Africa. She worked in the tourist industry in Johannesburg, South Africa, renting travel RVs. She had one daughter, Jane, from a previous marriage. Doreen was very outgoing and enjoyed playing badminton with her friends in Washington along with being very artistic in sewing, carpentry, photography and many other crafts. Harold and Doreen enjoyed many years of traveling throughout the world.
Harold had a very strong bond with his four siblings, Ruth, Ralph, Ken and Keith. They exemplified their strong family bond to all younger family members. Although the five of them lived across the country, they made a point to get together often, including all their spouses, to enjoy time together. For Harold’s 80th birthday there were 60 family members that stayed together in Eldridge, at the Wiggers homestead.
Harold and Doreen died within 5 days of each other. They are survived by Harold’s siblings Ruth Arp, Eldridge, IA, Ralph (Virginia) Wiggers, Crossville, TN, Ken Wiggers, Kelley, IA, Keith (Jan) Wiggers, Burlington, WA. Their combined children: Boris (Nadia) Wiggers, Sammanish, WA, Bruce (Tracy) Wiggers, Calgary, CAN, Jane Bishop, Wales, UK as well as their grandchildren, Jeffrey and Kelsey Wiggers, Calgary, CAN and Matthew, Jeremy and William Bishop, Wales, UK, and many nieces and nephews across the country, that all will miss them both dearly.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.