Wilfred G. "Bill" Wilkins

Wilfred G. "Bill" Wilkins Valparaiso Wilfred G. "Bill" Wilkins, 83, of Valparaiso, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2005 at the Horton VNA Hospice Center. He was born October 17, 1921 in Gary, the son of Jacob and Nellie (Nelson) Wilkins, graduated from Horace Mann High School and received a B.A. in Business from Indiana University. He retired in 1985 as Vice-President of Production for Anderson Company of Gary and Michigan City. He was currently Chairman and Trustee of the John W. Anderson Foundation and had been on the first Merrillville Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals and had been a member of Merrillville United Methodist Church since 1954. In addition to his ANCO responsibilities, Bill found time to participate in the following organizations: Red Cross, Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake County, ANCO Credit Union (founder), Lions Club, Gary Junior Chamber of Commerce. Earlier in his life, he was a golfer and a bowler, but his favorite hobby was Civil War history. Many family vacations included side-trips to a Civil War battlefield. In recent years, he found great pleasure in his library of books on military history. On August 19, 1950 at City Methodist, Gary, he married Patty Marimen who survives along with their three children: Claudia (Paul) Kuzemka of Valparaiso, Captain Jacob "Jay" (Debra) Wilkins, USN retired, of Stafford, VA, Rev. Mark (Jane) Wilkins of Dyer; three sisters: Ethyl Witwer of Lake Forest, IL, Barbara (George) Deck of Indianapolis, Mary Jayne (Keith) Nehrboss of Williamsville, NY and four grandchildren: Erin and Samantha Wilkins of Virginia, Abigail Wilkins of Dyer and Ellen Kuzemka of Valparaiso. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Ellinore Cullison and Laura Kettle. Funeral services will be held Thursday 10:30 a.m. at Moeller Funeral Home, 104 Roosevelt Rd, Valparaiso, Rev. Lorin I. Clemenz officiating with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation Wednesday 2:00-4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to VNA Hospice of Porter County. "You are our all."