Patricia Louise Wilkerson

Patricia Louise (Vanderhoff) Wilkerson finished her great race courageously and went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Pat died peacefully surrounded by her loving family listening to Englebert Humperdink’s greatest hits. Her courage, independence, and toughness were very inspiring to all of us. The entire family has immense respect for how she handled herself during this physically difficult time.

She was a resident of Sunrise of Cascade Assisted Living facility, for the past two years. Pat was 86 years old, born on May 7, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up on Omira St. in Detroit and graduated from Pershing High School in 1957. After high school, Pat began her career working at automotive dealerships in the Detroit area as an office administrator. That was suddenly interrupted when she ran into a handsome decorated Marine just back from Korea by the name of Tom Wilkerson. They quickly fell in love and were married shortly afterwards on May 21, 1960. Their love story lasted 44 years until Tom passed away in 2004. Tom and Pat built a successful business together that they started back in 1979, Wilkast, a zinc die cast company that specializes in highly decorative die castings for the plumbing industry. This was no easy task, and the company still thrives to this day. 

Pat’s parents, Francis Ferris Vanderhoff and Iva Louise Bunting had five children. Pat was blessed with four brothers, Jerry, Frank, Bill, and Dave. She was positioned right in the middle of the crew which afforded her great protection and love from her doting brothers. Unfortunately, her oldest brother, Jerry, just passed away on January 1, 2026, and got a head start on touring their new surroundings. Pat was also blessed with a stepfather, Eugene DeFelice, for much of her early childhood years. This honorable man was a great father figure to her and became a very loving grandparent to all of the countless grandchildren in the Vanderhoff family.

After Pat retired from Wilkast, she took up her favorite passions, golf,  shopping, dancing, and volunteering at Blodgett Hospital, not necessarily in that order. She would golf several times per week and especially loved golfing in Florida when spending many winters at her condo. The shopping statistics will need to stay undisclosed!

Pat was known for loving her family and friends fiercely, her feisty personality, her strong work ethic, and an incredible sense of fashion. She was indeed a “Force.”

Pat’s legacy can be found in her three boys, Tom (Cindy) Wilkerson, and their four kids, Zachary, Tessa, Luke (Angela and baby Adalynn), Emma (Gage) Blick; Mike (Chrissy) Wilkerson and his two boys, Dave (three kids) and Josh (Nicole and their four kids); Curt Wilkerson and his four kids, Hannah (Leah and baby Wesley) Poel, Avery, Teo, and Jo Jo.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families scattered mostly on the east side of the state of Michigan. Pat’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all of those who knew and loved her, which are countless.

The family will hold a private ceremony next week. A larger Celebration of Life ceremony for everyone to attend will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at a time and place to be determined. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask for memorial contributions to Brighton Hospice at 3033 Orchard Vista Dr., SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49546.