Gladys Wilke

Gladys Mae (Delfosse) Wilke was born on May 6, 1932, in McAllister, Wisconsin. After graduating from Wausaukee High School in 1949, she moved to Marinette and worked at Lauermans Department Store, and in the engineering department at Prescott Company in Menominee, MI. Gladys married Cornelius Wilke in 1950, and lived in the twin cities area until Cornelius was transferred to Butler, Alabama in 1966 with the Marathon Paper Company. Gladys and Cornelius lived in Butler for 45 years, raising two sons while becoming active in their church. Gladys played the organ at masses and taught religion. She also did volunteer work at the local nursing home, and worked part-time at the Extension Service in Butler, AL for 12 years. In 1990, the couple moved to the Gulf Coast of Alabama at the time of Cornelius retirement, where they remained until 2011 when they moved to Scottsdale, Arizona to live near their son, John Anton.
As a couple, Gladys and Cornelius travelled to all 50 states and took a few trips to Europe. They visited Germany, Belgium, and Ireland on various vacations, but it was the frequent summers they spent near their childhood homes in their cottage on the Menominee River that allowed them to stay close to their large immediate families and their lifelong friends.
On their move to Scottsdale the couple joined the Our Lady of Joy congregation, where Gladys became active in the church, serving as a greeter until she moved to Merrill Gardens in Anthem in 2021.
Gladys is survived by two sons, John Anton and Thomas Albert, two daughters-in-law, Katie and Leslie, two grandsons, Christopher Paul Wilke and Brian Gregory Wilke, two granddaughters-in-law, Karen and Lisa, three great-granddaughters: twins, Lilly and Kaitlyn, and Lucia, and one great-grandson, Nelse. Her husband, Cornelius died in 2012 while playing golf in Stephenson, MI. Gladys was preceded in death by four sisters: Mary Ann Langill, Betty Cherry, Thresa Simon, and Bernice Rastall, as well as by several nephews and nieces. Gladys has four surviving siblings: Vickie Lempke, Kathy Rastall, Jim Delfosse, and Ed Delfosse, as well as several nephews and nieces, all of whom Gladys treasured dearly.
Gladys was always a very active person. She loved playing cards and was an accomplished bridge player, was a frequent walker and also an occasional hiker. She especially enjoyed many Delfosse family camping trips to Pentoga Park on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, often taking one or both of her grandsons with her. One of her grandsons commented to her that she had "at least a hundred" cousins, all of whom were very dear to her. Until her last few weeks, Gladys remained active in a number of endeavors: church groups, bridge club, and various volunteer activities.
The Funeral Mass will be Saturday, July 26 at 10 a.m. at SS. Joseph and Edward Church in Walsh. A small reception will be held afterward, and burial will follow at St. Edwards Catholic Cemetery in Wagner.
Visitation
Thielen Funeral Home
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
1403 Newberry Ave
Marinette, WI 54143
Memorial Service
Thielen Funeral Home
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
6:00 PM
1403 Newberry Ave
Marinette, WI 54143
Funeral Mass
SS Joseph & Edward Parish
Saturday, July 26, 2025
10:00 AM
W 3308 County G
Porterfield, WI 54159 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Gladys, please visit our Tree Store.