Here is the complete text of the statement from
A Statement Regarding Gene Wilder from his Nephew/Child Jordan Walker-Pearlman.
Gene Wilder 11 June 1933-29 August 2016
"It is with indescribable sadness and blues, but with spiritual gratitude for the life lived that I announce the passing of husband, parent, and universal artist Gene Wilder, at his home in Stamford, Conn. It is almost unbearable for us to contemplate our life without him. The cause was complications from
The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him “there’s Willy Wonka,” would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world.
He continued to enjoy art, music, and kissing with his leading lady of the last twenty-five years, Karen. He danced down a church aisle at a wedding as parent of the groom and ring bearer, held countless afternoon movie western marathons and delighted in the the company of beloved ones.
He is survived by Karen, Jordan, and the Webbs (Kevin, Gretchen, Tucker, Spencer), along with Jordan’s wife, Elizabeth. Gene's sister Corinne, predeceased him in January of this year.
He was 83 and passed holding our hands with the same tenderness and love he exhibited as long as I can remember. As our hands clutched and he performed one last breath, the music speaker, which was set to random, began to blare out one of his favorites:
“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.”
Sincerely,
“Gene’s Kid”
Jordan Walker-Pearlman