The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Obituary section

Related Photos

December 29, 2009

Clifford Charles Wilker

Clifford Charles Wilker, age 88, of Waseca, MN died on Tuesday, December 29, 2009, at his home surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca with Rev. Marty Schaefer officiating. Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Waseca. Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2010 from 9-11 AM prior to the service at the church.

Clifford Charles, son of Herman and Pearl (Dibble) Wilker was born on September 25, 1921 in Woodville Township, Waseca County, MN. He attended Waseca Public Schools. Clifford worked for the Johnson Ice Company from 1935 until 1942 when he was drafted in the U.S. Army. Clifford served in WWII with the United States Army 50th Engineers, 7th Division from 1942-1945. While in the service, Clifford was in Camp Dodge, IA; Camp White in Medford, OR; Ventura, CA; Fort Ord, CA; then to WA where he got on a ship to go to Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands (by Alaska); on to the Hawaii Marshal Islands; to Leyte in the Philippines; to Okinawa; and back to the U.S. in 1945. During the war, Clifford was buried twice during bombings and broke his leg at Okinawa while unloading heavy equipment, which was to be shipped to Japan. Clifford received the Bronze Star for saving a fellow soldier. He was discharged Nov. 20, 1945 with the rank of staff sergeant. Following his honorable discharge he returned to work for Johnson Ice Company from 1945 to 1952. His work shift was from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day and he earned $2.50 a week. It was a dangerous job and he fell through the ice twice. He was then hired by Chicago Northwestern Railroad and worked on the railroad until he fell from the top of a boxcar and was permanently disabled. In addition, he “helped” his friend, Joe Rose, at the Rose Oil Company.

Clifford married Ethel M. Kubista on March 22, 1946 at Christ the King Church in Medford, MN and earlier this year celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. During their years together they were blessed with five children. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He had contracted Macular Degeneration and was legally blind for the last fifteen years of his life.

Clifford was a 51 year member of the Waseca American Legions Post #228 and a life member of the Waseca VFW Post#1642. Clifford enjoyed spending time with his family, watching wrestling on TV, playing Blackjack and Pinochle, and playing the marble game Aggravation with Ethel, his children, and grandchildren.

Clifford is survived by his wife, Ethel; one son, Spencer (and Patricia) Wilker of Faribault, MN; three daughters, Beverly (and Darrold) Gehring of Waseca, MN; Connie (and Vernon) Fette of Elysian, MN; and Sandra (and Ivan) Anderson of Janesville, MN; eighteen grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; two sisters, Marie Krause of Owatonna, MN and Fern Zopfi of Mission, TX; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Clifford was preceded in death by his parents; one son in infancy, Dennis Dale Wilker; one grandson, Nathan Anderson; and siblings and in-laws Lyle and Ruth Wilker, Ernest Wilker, Herbert (Sid) and Arlene (Blondie) Wilker, and Harvey and Charlene Wilker.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca, Waseca Area Hospice, or donor’s choice. On line condolences may be sent to the family at www.dennisfuneralhomes.com .

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Obituary section
  • Marion Hoffman Marion Hoffman

    Hoffman, Marion, age 93, of Breckenridge, MN, passed away 12/10/11.
     

    December 12, 2011 1 Photo

  • obit-Gaffer, Robert.jpg Robert John Gaffer

    Robert John Gaffer, age 79, of Mankato, MN, died Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at Immanuel St. Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato.

    February 3, 2011 1 Photo

  • Lauren J. Guentzel Lauren J. Guentzel

    Lauren John Guentzel, age 73, of Madison Lake, died Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at Immanuel St. Joseph’s Hospital.

    September 15, 2010 1 Photo

  • obit-Petree, Rita.jpg Rita Petree

    Rita Petree, 87, of Montgomery, died Thursday, May 20, 2010, at Abbott Northwest-ern Hospital in Minneapolis.

    May 22, 2010 1 Photo

  • Ethel Korn

    Ethel E. Korn, age 83, of Wells, MN, died Monday, February 22, 2010, at Pathstone Living in Mankato, MN.

    February 23, 2010

  • obit-Dvorak, old.jpg David J. Dvorak

    David “Sharkey” Joseph Dvorak, age 75 of St. Peter passed away at Life Care Hospital of South Texas in McAllen, Texas.

    February 23, 2010 2 Photos

  • obit-Buck, Margaret.jpg Margaret C. Buck

    Margaret C. Buck, known to many as “Mardy”, died peacefully on February 18, 2010, at age 87 due to complications of dementia. Mardy had been a resident at Sunrise Cottage of Mankato for the past 18 months. She was predeceased by her parents, the Reverend Harry W. Buck and Anna Mayer Buck, her sister Lucy Buck Lehman, her brother-in-law Ken Lehman, and her devoted friend, Dr. Jane Ann Roberts.

    February 23, 2010 1 Photo

  • obit-wettergren, bob-2.jpg Robert W. Wettergren

    Wettergren, Robert W. (“Mr. St. Peter”) died Feb. 19 in St. Peter, MN. Born to Clarence A. and Edna Pell Wettergren, Sept. 1, 1921, Traverse Twp, MN, at the Wettergren farm, one mile east of Governor John Johnson’s birthplace.

    February 23, 2010 1 Photo

  • Sgt. 1st Class Robert A. Cheever Sgt. 1st Class Robert A. Cheever

    Robert Arthur “Rob” Cheever, Sergeant First Class, United States Army, 37, formerly of Mankato and Cleveland, Minnesota, now of Ft. Drum, New York, died of pancreatic cancer at the Waseca Medical Center on February 21, 2010.

    February 22, 2010 1 Photo

  • Marie Rosten Marie Rosten

    Marie Rosten, age 92, died on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at Pathstone Nursing Home in Mankato.

    February 22, 2010 1 Photo