DeWayne Vernon Wilkening (1924-2012)

WILKENING, KING, HANKINS, SEVERSON, THOMSEN, PATTERSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/11/2012 at 15:19:46

From Chet Ryan Mortuary obituary, Nevada, Story County, Iowa:

DeWayne Vernon Wilkening
May 25, 1924 - May 12, 2012

DeWayne Vernon Wilkening was called home by his Lord Jesus on Saturday, May 12, 2012. He was at his home of 49 years in Nevada, surrounded by his family. DeWayne, 87 was a life-long Nevada resident, born in Nevada on May 25, 1924 to Verne H. and Mildred (King) Wilkening.
DeWayne graduated from Nevada High School in 1942 and was an exceptional athlete, competing in baseball and basketball. His 1942 Cub basketball team was the last Nevada team to earn their way to the Iowa High School State tournament, finishing third. He was elected to the Nevada High School Hall of Fame in 2005. He was active in athletics throughout his life, playing for the Nevada Red Sox baseball team and later playing fast pitch softball for several years. He also enjoyed bowling, golfing, and gardening.

After high school, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served honorably during W.W. II from 1943 until 1946. He saw duty on both coasts, and on a troop transport shuttling troops from San Francisco to the Philippines.

He married his high school sweetheart, Vivian A. Hankins in San Francisco on April 30, 1945. They were married for 67 years and have seven children, 28 grandchildren, and 36 great grandchildren. Their children are Barry (Donna) Wilkening of Lead, SD, Stacie (Keith) Severson of Littleton, CO, Brad (Kay) Wilkening of Storm Lake, Shelley (Jim) Thomsen of Ankeny, Bret (Lisa) Wilkening of Polk City, Shawn (Shawn) Wilkening of Ankeny, and Brian (Ann) Wilkening of Maxwell. DeWayne has a brother Bob (Shirley) Wilkening of Northglenn, CO and a sister, Marcia Patterson of Longview, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter-in-law, Leslie Wilkening.

DeWayne and Vivian both joined the First United Methodist Church on Easter Sunday in 1941 and have been active members ever since. DeWayne began working for the Reuben H. Donnelley Corporation in Nevada in 1950 and became a bindery department supervisor. "Doc" retired from Donnelley's in 1990 after 40 years of service. He was a charter member of the Nevada Kiwanis Club, and was active in the VFW and American Legion.
DeWayne delighted in spending time visiting with his kids and grandkids and their families. He was a man of quiet strength, gentle, kind, humble, and quick to smile. He is loved deeply and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Our loss is tempered by the knowledge that he is with his Lord and Savior.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in the First United Methodist Church, 1036 7th Street in Nevada with Deacon Brenda Hobson officiating. Burial, with military rites, will follow in the Nevada Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 15 with the family present from 5-8:00 p.m. at Chet Ryan Mortuary, 708 Fifth Street in Nevada.

Memorials may be directed in loving memory of DeWayne to the Care Initiatives Hospice or the First United Methodist Church.

Chet Ryan Mortuary has been entrusted with the care of DeWayne and his family.

http://www.chetryanmortuary.com/
 

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