Veronica B. Gildner

Veronica Bernice Wangler Gildner, age 99, of Cheboygan, Michigan, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2025. Veronica was born on May 25, 1926 in West Branch, Michigan, to Joseph and Flora ( O'Connor) Wangler.
On June 15, 1946, she married the love of her life, Ernest J. Gildner, her high school sweetheart. This started a legacy of accomplishment and dedication to creating Cheboygan Cement Products in 1946 where they worked side-by-side for their entire lives. Ernest was the Plant Manager and Veronica was the Business Manager. In 1951, the current location of the Cement Products Company on Lafayette Ave. was built for cement block manufacturing. The Redi-Mix plant was added to the operation in 1962 and expanded over the years to include plants for a time in Alpena, Hillman, Onaway, St. Ignace, Gaylord and Mackinaw City. In 1975, the Redi-Mix Pre-Cast division was added, in 1986, the Quikrete bagged products. The Gildner family has continued strong in business for 79 years in Northern Michigan and are very proud of continuing to the third generation of Vera and Ernie Gildner as their community legacy.
The story of Vera's life is centered around love...love of Ernie and love of her family and love of God. She was at the office every day into her 80's overseeing the growth and daily operations of their businesses. She was home every evening taking care of her seven children and creating a loving and secure home. With the few hours she had to have a hobby, it was her flower gardens which were lovely each season. She was devout in her faith and faithful to church activities. She and Ernie enjoyed traveling in their younger years with family and friends. She was generous to community organizations, such as scholarship funds to Bishop Baraga Schools and Cheboygan Area Schools. She was proud of her community and helped out whenever needed.
Her greatest pride was her large family. Vera is survived by seven children, all in Cheboygan: Patricia Gildner, Michael (Cathy) Gildner, Catherine (Stephen) Ptasnik, Martin (Denise) Gildner, Ann (Bruce Cranham) Gildner, John (Michelle) Gildner, and Gregory (Candi) Gildner. She is beloved by 23 grandchildren and 45 great-grandchildren. She was always happy holding those babies!
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ernie, in 2006. Her nine Wangler siblings have all passed away: brothers, Dennis, Donald, Vernon (her twin), Joseph, Jr., John, Maurice, and her sisters: Patricia, Sister Verona, and Sister Michelle (both Dominican Sisters).
Vera's Visitation and Funeral Mass will be at St. Mary's/ St. Charles Catholic Church on Saturday, December 13, 2025. Open visitation will begin at 9:00 am, followed by Mass at 11:00 am, Rev. Duane Wachowiak officiating. Her burial service will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Cheboygan on May 25, 2026, on Vera's 100th Birthday to celebrate her amazing long life!
Memorial contributions in Vera's name can be made to Bishop Baraga Schools or Cheboygan Area Schools Scholarship funds, and Humane Society.