Robin Sue Dilg

1945 - 2025

Robin Sue Dilg
Big Rapids, Michigan
08/24/1945 - 01/30/2025
Robin Wagner Dilg passed away on Thursday, January 30, 2025, in Big Rapids, Michigan from complications caused by Alzheimer's disease. She was 79.
Robin lived a life full of adventure. She was born and raised in Chicago by her parents, Marge "Mimi" and Robert "Papa" Wagner, along with her younger brother Bob. In their early childhood, the family traveled with Papa as he performed as a jazz trumpet player with popular big bands. They spent their summers in Colorado, where Robin was introduced to riding horses at a nearby dude ranch, planting the seeds for a lifelong passion. She credited this constant travel and the need to make friends quickly with shaping her extroverted personality.
In 1963 at just 17 years old, she married architectural student Bruce Dilg and gave birth to the first of three children. She worked at a wide variety of jobs over the next 16 years while raising her children, camping, hiking, and playing tennis, consistently rising to top positions despite having no formal education in her professions. In 1977, Robin rediscovered her passion for riding, buying the first of her many horses.
In 1979, the family decided to leave city life behind and move to Lander, Wyoming. There, Robin worked for the local newspaper, putting her extroverted personality to good use in sales and by acting in amateur theater.
Wyoming proved to be the perfect outlet for Robin's passion for adventure such as hiking, skiing, and camping. She and Bruce also discovered the sport of horse endurance riding and began participating in 50 and 100 mile races through the mountains. Robin won numerous races and quickly settled in with a community of fellow enthusiasts.
In 1986, an economic downturn moved the family to Big Rapids, Michigan. Then in her 40s, Robin went back to college at Ferris State University where she obtained a degree in social work, graduating with honors. The rewarding work was an ideal outlet for her passion for healing and helping people. Upon retirement, she and Bruce began cross-country camping trips, riding their horses through some of the most beautiful places in the USA.
Robin is particularly remembered for her indefatigable cheerfulness, humor and storytelling skill, love and compassion for people and animals, her skills as an equestrienne and riding teacher, her joy in giving gifts, many of which she knitted and sewed herself, her pride and joy in her family, her devotion to her church community, her fierce support for the Ferris State University football team, her talent for bonding quickly with anyone, and her magical ability to brighten the days even of complete strangers.
Robin took great joy in her grandchildren and sharing her passion for horses, camping, sledding, and going on adventures. Nothing lit up her face more than when her grandchildren arrived.
Robin is survived by her husband Bruce, her children Christine Perkett, Ken Dilg (Jill), and Brian Dilg (Justina); and five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Robert, Richard, Jackson, and Harry. She was preceded in death by her brother Bob and her parents Marge and Robert Wagner.
Robin's life will be celebrated in a memorial service to be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 726 Fuller Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307 on Friday, February 7, 2025. A viewing will be held at 10:00am with a service at 11:00 am. Anyone is welcome to speak and share stories about Robin and celebrate her life with the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robin's name to Hospice of Michigan: 1-800-669-9335 or https://www.hom.org/donate/ or the Alzheimer's Association: 1-800-272-3900 or https://www.alz.org/donate.
Care and arrangements are entrusted to the Mohnke Janowicz Funeral Home in Big Rapids.