Funeral services for Doreen Wilber, 78, of Jefferson, will be 11:00 am Thursday October 23, 2008 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson, with burial at the Jefferson Cemetery.  Friends may call at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson after 9:00 am Wednesday, October 22, 2008 with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. 

Doreen is survived by her husband: Paul (Skeeter) Wilber of Jefferson, Iowa. 

Memorials in Doreen’s name are suggested to the Greene County Community Center or the Alzheimer Association.

Doreen Viola Wilber died October 19, 2008 at Regency Park in Jefferson.  Doreen was born January 8, 1930 to Iola Dolder Hansen and Adel G. Hansen in Rutland, Iowa.  She attended schools in Humboldt and Lake City and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1948.  After graduation she worked as a bookkeeper at the Jefferson Creamery, Lindharts, Trumbo-Wilber Garage, Wilber-Danielson Garage and made drapes for Smith Upholstery.

Doreen married the love of her life, Paul (Skeeter) Wilber, on May 20, 1951 and they made their home in Jefferson the past 57 years.  Doreen loved her garden, flowers and had a way with animals.  She and Skeeter always had a cat for company.

In the 50’s, and before archery, Doreen was a fine bowler and a member of the 500 Club.  She paired with Babe Pett to win the State Doubles bowling tournament.

Doreen was also renowned for her excellent cooking and hospitality.  Many friends visited while enjoying her cookies.  Some friends would even come home to find a warm pie on their kitchen table because she always said as long as she was making one for Skeeter; it was just as easy to make another to give away.

Doreen first got interested in archery in 1957 when a customer “paid” Skeeter for auto work by giving him a bow and arrows.  It soon became apparent that she was a natural archer, physically strong with amazing concentration.  Without the benefit of professional coaching, college or commercial sponsors she made it to the top.  Her husband Skeeter was her only coach.  At the state level from 1963-1973 she never lost a tournament.  She was first at the seven state sectional level from 1962-1969.  As a national competitor from 1965-1975 she won 5 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.  In 1976 Doreen won the national indoor gold medal.  In her first national competition in 1965 she amazed many archers - - not only with her ability, but with the fact that she shot that well with arrows that were fletched with real feathers!

Doreen shot on the international level from 1968-1974 and rewrote the record book establishing 10 new records and became the first woman to shoot over 1200 in international competition.  During that time she made the US Archery team 8 times between 1965-1976, and competed in such places as Russia, England, South Africa, San Juan and Germany.  She set either national or world records 18 times.  The highest point of her shooting career was winning the Olympic gold medal in Munich, Germany in 1972.

During all her years competing, Doreen was a great competitor who always showed outstanding sportsmanship.  When traveling, she would take extra strings, arrow rests, etc. to give away for opponents from other countries that had trouble getting supplies.  It didn’t matter that it might be her toughest competitor.  At the 1971 National Tournament the visiting Japanese team got food poisoning and Doreen and a doctor sat up all night helping them recover.  In the morning she strung up her bow and shot a new tournament record.

Doreen always had time for other archers, young and old, and all the spectators who wanted to visit.  Her real joy was the young people in the JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development) group that she and Skeeter worked with for 12 years.  Many of them spent time at the Wilber home.  Doreen followed their activities and kept scrapbooks of all newspaper articles, graduation and wedding announcements.

Doreen has also been inducted in to 9 halls of fame:  Jefferson High School, Bell Tower, Des Moines Register, Iowa State Archers, Iowa Sports, Sports Illustrated Athletes of the Century, Athletes of Iowa, Greene County Bowling and Archery Hall of Fame.

Doreen was preceded in death by her parents, brother Daryl and twin brothers Eldon and Adel.  She is survived by her husband Skeeter; 3 nieces:  Karel (John) Obenauf, Kathy (Steve) Marsh and Karen Hansen; other relatives and many, many friends.