Ralph B. Wilke

1930 - 2010

Ralph Wilke

Ralph B. Wilke, 79, of Breese, Ill., born May 25, 1930, in St. Rose, Ill., died Monday March 1, 2010, at his residence.

Ralph was retired from Wicks Organ Company, Highland, Ill., Marine Veteran serving from 1951 to 1953. He was a member of St. Dominic Church and Men's Sodality, Breese American Legion Post 252, St. Joseph hospital Auxiliary, Clinton County Farm Bureau, Breese Senior Citizens, Clinton County Senior services and chairman of Board of Directors.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Theresia, nee Goestenkors, Wilke; his brothers, Vince and Francis Wilke, a sister Veronica Tebbe; a sister-in-law, Bertha Wilke; and his brothers-in-law, Ed Tebbe and Robert Huelsmann.

Surviving are his wife, Theodora Huelsmann, whom he married Oct. 26, 1954, at St. Dominic Church, Breese, Ill., and she survives in Breese, Ill.; his children, Helen (Dale) Essenpreis of Breese, Ill., David (Jayme) Wilke of Highland, Ill., Paul Wilke of Monclova Mexico, Linus (Leann) Wilke of Breese, Ill., and Virgil (Suzanne) Wilke of Highland, Ill.; 13 grandchildren, Brett (Brian) Beer, Brad and Luke Essenpreis, Adam, Tyler, Clayton, Mitchell, Meredith, Anderson, Madelyn, Audrey, Olivia, and Grace Wilke; his brothers, Norbert (Mary) Wilke of St. Rose, Ill., Stanley (Joan) Wilke of Highland, Ill.;

a sister, Mary Agnes (Kenny) Rutz of Grantfork, Ill.; and his brothers and sisters-in-law, Pauline Wilke of Aviston, Ill., Wilbert (Agnes) Huelsmann, Kathleen Huelsmann, Bernard (Irene) Huelsmann, Richard Huelsmann, Roger Huelsmann all of Breese, Ill.

Memorials can be made to St. Dominic Church, St. Joseph Hospital Scholarship for Lights, Heartland hospice, Mater Dei High School, All Saints Academy, and will be received at the funeral home.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 4, 2010, and from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Friday, March 5, 2010, at Moss Funeral Home, Breese, Ill. American Legion will hold service at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home.

Funeral: Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday March 4, 2010, at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese, Ill., with Father Patrick Peter officiating. Interment will be held at St. Dominic-St. Augustine Cemetery, Breese, Ill.

Moss Funeral Home, Breese, Ill.