Full Obituary

FRANKLIN J. WILKE, age 82, of Loyal, died at Ministry St. Joseph's Hospital, in Marshfield, on Thursday, September 12, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal. Rev. Steve Brice will officiate and burial will follow in the parish cemetery. His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Trevyn Wilke, Nick Wilke, Aedynn Wilke and Bryce Meyer. Visitation will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Church on Monday, September 16, 2013 from 4pm to 8pm, with a 7:30pm rosary service, and again on Tuesday, at the church, from 10am until time of service.
Franklin Julius Wilke was born on December 20, 1930 in Dorchester, WI, the son of George and Agnes (Weber) Wilke. He was raised on the family farm, received his education at Dorchester schools, and graduated from Abbotsford High School. After completing high school, Frank attended UW-Madison for 2 years, completing the Farmer's Short Course. He was united in marriage to Irene M. Lindner on June 17, 1953 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenwood. They farmed in Pittsville for 2 years before moving to Greenwood. In 1956, they purchased a farm and moved to Loyal. Frank was a lifelong farmer and also hauled livestock for Equity in Stratford.
He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, and was involved in many 4-H activities as the leader of the Prosperity Pea Pickers for many years.
Frank had many interests, but especially loved hunting, gardening, trucking, umping softball and frequenting his "offices".
He will be dearly missed by his wife of 60 years, Irene, of Loyal; his children: Catherine (Dennis) Weber of Loyal, Dianne (Eddy) Kollmansberger of Loyal, Patricia (Kim) Blanscet of Crosby, TX, Steven (Linda) of Sioux Falls, SD, Louann (Paul) Lazzari of Grafton, WI, Bernard of Loyal, Thomas (Amanda) of Loyal, Robert (Tanya) of Loyal, Anthony (Cheri) of Loyal, Lisa (David) Meyer of Hudson; 31 grandchildren: David (Diana) Weber, Christina (James) Alonzo, Patrick (Megan) Weber, Eric (Michelle) Weber, Jonathon (Becky) Weber, Jason (Hillary) Kollmansberger, Chad (Angie) Kollmansberger, Brandi (Jamie) Barthel, Kelli (Zach) Kauth, Courtney (Phillip) Chatman, Brittany (Shaun) Manuel, Austin Blanscet, Abbigail and Kayla Wilke, Amanda and Jessica Lazzari, Bradley and Matthew Wilke, Andrya, Grayce, and Aedynn Wilke, Taylre, Ryleigh and Trevyn Wilke, Taylor, Nicholas, and Savanah Wilke, Bret Olson, Paige, Bryce and Carly Meyer; 16 great grandchildren; 7 siblings: Melvin (Florence) Wilke of Wausau, John Wilke of Pittsville, MaryAnn (Donald) Lindner of Greenwood, Lucille (Gerald) Jensen of Marshfield, Edith (Dale) Palecek of Merrill, Charles Wilke of Mt. Vernon, MO, Dorothy (Marvin) Raasch of Wisconsin Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters-in-law: Susan and Rita Wilke, a son: Edward Wilke, daughter-in-law: Penelope Wilke; granddaughter: Jennifer Wilke, and an infant sister.