Alan Edward Wilkens

Sept. 15, 1934--Feb. 2, 2011

CHOCTAW, Oklahoma -- Alan Edward Wilkens, 76, died Thursday (Feb. 3, 2011), at his home in Choctaw.

He was born Sept. 15, 1934, in rural Cheyenne County, Kansas, the son of Charley A. and Jessie (Herren) Wilkens.

He attended country school at Walnut Grove near McDonald, Kansas through the eighth grade. He attended high school at Regis High School and College in Denver, Colorado, St Joseph's Military Academy in Hays, Kansas, and McDonald High School in McDonald, Kansas, graduating in 1952. He graduated from Barnes Business College in Denver. He then went to work in Benkelman, Nebraska.

He was later employed in bookkeeping with the Rock Island Railroad until they dissolved, then at Tinker Air Force Base, and ultimately retired from Cromwell, Inc in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

On Nov. 27, 1985, he was united in marriage to Jacqueline Sue Ruek.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1980; mother in 1993; brothers, Ralph Eugene Wilkens in 1951 and James Hubert in 2009.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie Wilkens of the home in Choctaw; brothers, Arthur and wife, Mae Wilkens of Stockton, Kansas, and Larry Wilkens of Colorado Springs, Colorado; sisters, Charlene Gunther of Stockton, Betty and husband, Tom Tomlinson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Rita Wheeler of Aurora, Colorado.

Mass of Christian burial is Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. MST, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Benkelman with the Rev. Thomas Wiedel officiating. Interment will follow services at the Benkelman Cemetery.

Rosary services are Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. MST, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Benkelman.

Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society.

Forch Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.