Catherine L. Wilkens

Catherine L. Wilkens, 87, died Sunday, March 17, 2019 at Via Christie in Manhattan, KS. Visitation will be Thursday, March 21, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Ward Funeral Home in Linn.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m., Friday, March 22 at Zion Lutheran Church, Linn. Pallbearers are Mike McGatlin, Russ Novotny, Jason Coonrod, Gar Ball, Chase McGatlin and Don Lehman. Interment will be at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. On December 20, 1931 the Lord God blessed Herman and Christina (Boerger) Lehman of Goodland, KS with the gift of an infant daughter whom they named Catherine Louise Lehman.   She attended elementary School through the 8th grade. Catherine and Emil Wilkens were married June 28, 1952 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Marysville, KS by Rev. R.M. Lammers. Kate worked at the Washington County Creamery and at the Linn Community Nursing Home in the laundry for twenty years. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Linn, KS and the Linn American Legion Auxiliary. Kate loved gardening, her grandchildren and their sports activities. When it was hard for her to get to church, she appreciated the Zion Tape Ministry very much. Kate was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Emil on November 7, 1993; step son-in-law, Gerald Brauer; brothers, Leonard, Robert, Lawrence and Terry; and sisters, Mary Banniger, Betty Long, Dorothy Long, Lillian Rippe, Jeanette Hoerner and infant sisters, Helen and Ida; brothers-in-law, Harland Banniger, Elmo Rahe, Richard Rahe and Terry Simnitt. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Lehman of Linn; step-daughter, Sharlene Brauer, Crete, NE; seven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild; brothers, LeRoy (Elfrieda) Lehman, Linn, and Bill (Cheryl) Lehman, Topeka; sisters, Louise Rahe, Hillsboro, Patty Rahe, Linn, Ruth Simnitt and Judy (John) Lotz, both of Topeka; brother-in-law, Dale Rippe, Linn; and sisters-in-law, Lola Lehman and Judy Riek both of Clay Center, Donna Lehman, Topeka and Jean Lehman, Morrowville. Memorial funds have been established to Zion Lutheran Church, Linn, KS or the Presbyterian Manor, Clay Center, KS. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, PO Box 157, Washington, Kansas 66968. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Catherine L. Wilkens, please visit our flower store.