Bigalk, Wilma Jean (Sanders) 1935 - 2021

BIGALK, SANDERS, MANUEL, TUPY, BERAN, NIGHTINGALE, DANIEL, SOLLIEN, BOUSKA

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/11/2021 at 16:32:12

Wilma J. Bigalk, age 86, of Cresco, Iowa, died on June 9, 2021 at home surrounded by family.

A Memorial Service for Wilma will be held on Monday, June 14, 2021 at the Cresco Community Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Jon Van Dine officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 13, at the Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Cresco, IA, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. and will continue one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.

Wilma Jean Bigalk was born April 3, 1935, in Cresco, Iowa, only child to William and Muriel (Manuel) Sanders. She was baptized and confirmed at Fremont Lutheran Church in rural Winneshiek County. She was raised on a farm near Kendallville and graduated from Cresco High School in 1953. Wilma and Arlin Bigalk were married at Fremont Lutheran Church on May 25, 1974, where they were both members. They farmed by the Bigalk Trout Stream north of Cresco where they milked cows for many years. She was a member of the American Jersey Cattle Club and the American Milking Shorthorn Association.

She worked at the Winneshiek Co Treasurer’s Office, Decorah Vet Clinic, was secretary at Crestwood High School principal’s office, and was Spectrum Industries store manager and vocational trainer in Cresco. She was a member of Fremont Lutheran Church until it disbanded in 19+76. All total, she taught Sunday school for 44 years and held other positions such as Christian Education coordinator and circle Bible study leader while attending Immanuel Lutheran Church after Fremont closed. She has been active with the Fremont Cemetery Association, serving as secretary, spearheading annual clean up days, and placing flags on all of the veterans buried there each Memorial Day.

Her genealogy and history interests led her to research and compile many family and local histories, especially around her “old stomping grounds” of Kendallville and Plymouth Rock. Wilma enjoyed sewing quilt tops and donated many, many of them to church groups to finish and send to missions. In later years, she donated quilts to the Cresco Fire Department. She loved flowers of all kinds, but especially roses and geraniums. She had a rose garden and knew the names of every rose variety. She took special care to collect geranium slips and grow them from her friends and neighbors, and years later could still tell you who this plant or that plant came from.

Wilma is survived by her husband Arlin, daughter Laurie (Bob) Tupy, grandchildren Jackie (Matt) Beran, Barbie Tupy, Bryan Tupy, Jenni Nightingale, and Bethany (Andy Sollien) Daniel, 3 great-grandchildren, and one cousin, Gloria (Curtis) Bouska.

She was preceded in death by her parents and many cousins.

The family would like to thank the Howard County Community Hospice for their tender care and support of Wilma over the last few months.

Source: Hindt Funeral Home database