George Paul Wilken

1915 - 2011

George Wilken

George Paul Wilken, 96, of New Baden, Ill., born Jan. 30, 1915, in Bartelso, Ill., died Thursday, June 30, 2011, at Clinton Manor Living Center in New Baden, Ill.

Mr. Wilken was a construction worker for Keely Brothers in East St. Louis, Ill. He was a World War II veteran of the United States Army and served in the 3rd Army under General George Patton in England, Germany, Italy, Sicily, North Africa and France. He was a member of St. George Parish in New Baden, Ill., where he was a mass server and an usher; a member of the American Legion Post 321 in New Baden; a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus New Baden Council 10311; Laborers Local 100, Caseyville; New Baden Senior Citizens, and the New Baden Singers and Swingers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wessel and Wilhelmina, nee Beckmann, Wilken; son-in-law, Thomas Gebke; four brothers and their spouses, Paul (Mildred) Wilken, Henry (Frances) Wilken, Alphonse (Margaret) Wilken and Vincent (Dorothy) Wilken; and three sisters and their spouses, Rose (George) Winkler, Frances (Victor) Wellinghoff and Laura (Otis) Boatright.

Surviving are his wife of 70 years, Magdalene E., nee Golsch, Wilken, of New Baden, Ill., whom he married on June 25, 1941 in New Baden, Ill.; his children, Georgieann "Dolly" Gebke of Bartelso, Ill., Marlene (Robert) Haas of Belleville, Ill., Eugene (Sherry) Wilken of St. Rose, Ill., Dale (Melba) Wilken of Washington, Mo., Darlene (Louis) Boeckmann, Elfrieda (Richard) Poettker, Brendalee (Randy) Ross and Gary (Dorothy) Wilken, all of New Baden, Ill.; 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, and brother-in-law, Katherine and Adolph "Bud" Hug of New Baden, Ill., and Agnes Teague of Ferguson, Mo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the form of Masses or to Heartland Hospice or Clinton Manor Activity Fund and will be received at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hempenfuneralhome.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 4, 2011, and from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden, Ill. The New Baden American Legion will visit the funeral home at 7 p.m. on Monday followed by the Knights of Columbus, who will visit at 7:30 p.m.

Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at St. George Catholic Church in New Baden, Ill., with the Rev. Eugene Neff officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in New Baden, Ill.

HEMPEN FUNERAL HOME, New Baden, Ill.