Obituary of Donald Wilke

Donald Theodore Wilke, 81, Wisconsin Rapids, died Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at Saint Josephs Hospital, Marshfield. Services will be at 3:00 PM on Sunday, April 1 at Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids. Reverend Thomas Graves will officiate. Burial will be in Arpin Lutheran Cemetery in rural Arpin. Donald was born December 21, 1930 in Wisconsin Rapids to the late William and Edna (Speilman) Wilke. He married Berndetta Morris on October 6, 1951 in Wisconsin Rapids and they celebrated 60 years together before his death. Donald began working for the railroad for a number of years before working for the Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Mill, Port Edwards Division as a Cutter Operator until his retirement. An avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and Badgers, Donald rarely missed an opportunity to watch their games. He also loved to work in his vegetable garden, enjoyed woodworking, working on jigsaw puzzles, deer hunting and his favorite hangout on Monday mornings was at Critter?s Bar with the guys. Most of all, he absolutely loved spoiling his granddaughters, McKenna and Kendra every chance he got. Survivors include his beloved wife, Berndetta; daughters, Karen (Christopher Walport) Wilke and Kim (Glen) Noska; granddaughters, McKenna and Kendra; step-grandson, Jesse Lordson; sisters, Doretta Curtis and Marg Ewert; and extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his brother, William Wilke Jr.; brothers-in-law, Fran Curtis and Donald Ewert; and infant brother, Robert Wilke. Friends may call at Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids from 1:00 until the time of services on Sunday, April 1.