Elden G. Wilkens

Elden G. Wilkens, 81, of rural Clifton, Kansas, died from leukemia on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at the Clay County Medical Center. A funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 13 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, west of Linn. Rev. Richard Rikli officiated. Barbara Ruhnke played the organ while the congregation sang “Just As I Am", "Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising", “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”, "I’m But a Stranger Here”. The congregation sang “Abide With Me” at the cemetery. The pallbearers were Don Dodd, Alan Ohlde, Kevin Reith, Jared Meier, Larry Reith, Jim Hartman, Richard Reith and Firman Brandt. Burial was in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. Elden was born June 4, 1929 in Strawberry Township, son of Frank and Clara (Kuhlmann) Wilkens. On June 9, 1929 he was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church by Rev. Paul Stalp. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in which he remained faithful to his end. He attended Immanuel Lutheran School and Linn High School. On December 29, 1950, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the U.S.S. New Jersey during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on October 28, 1954 and then returned to the family farm where he lived almost his entire life. On September 7, 1958 he was united in marriage to Bernice R. Herrs at Immanuel Lutheran Church by Rev. John D. Kovac. The marriage was blessed with three daughters, Andrea, Pamala and Connie; and son, Fred. Elden was a lifetime active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church west of Linn and the LLL. was also a member of the Wholmoor American Legion Post #237. He was a road maintainer for Brantford & Strawberry Township and a Washington County Archer Oil manager. Elden enjoyed being a part time Palmer Grain employee and coffee maker. Hobbies enjoyed included; hunting, bowling, loved softball (still pitching at 50!!), unique bird house building, tinkering, endless barn projects, making his anual Labor Day appearance with his TRUSTY JOHN DEERE. He also enjoyed a friendly game of snooker with the grand kids. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Emma Koerner; sisters, Elda Wilkens and Paula Jenkins; brother, Emil Wilkens; and son-in-law, Terry Hardesty. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Bernice; three daughters, Andrea Cannizzo (Tom), Clay Center, Pamala Wiese (Gary), Palmer, Connie Hess (Frank), Elizabeth, CO; one son, Sr. Mst. Sgt. Fred Wilkens (Jacque), Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV; one sister, Edna Rodehorst (Albert), Linn; one sister-in-law, Kate Wilkens, Clay Center; fifteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A memorial fund has been established to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Building Fund or Lutheran Hour Ministries. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, P.O. Box 157, Washington, Kansas 66968. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Elden G. Wilkens, please visit our flower store.