Lucille Grace Wilken

Lucille Grace Wilken

Nov. 1, 1920 - March 9, 2014

HILDRETH, Nebraska -- Lucille Grace Wilken, the first-born child of Fooke and Minnie (Keiser) Hemje, was born on Nov. 1, 1920, at the family farm south of Hildreth. She entered eternal life on March 9, 2014, at the age of 93, at Bethany Home in Minden, Nebraska.

She was baptized on Nov. 23, 1920, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church south of Hildreth and later confirmed there on June 23, 1935. She attended School District 26 through the eighth grade and graduated from Hildreth High School in 1940. She graduated from Hastings Beauty Academy in 1941 and opened a beauty shop in Hildreth.

On Feb. 1, 1942 she was united in marriage to Elmer Wilken at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. The family later moved to Arapahoe and during this time Lucille was a loving wife, mother and homemaker. In addition to this she worked part time at Life Bakery and C.A. Mues (currently Good Samaritan) Nursing Home.

Lucille was a past member of Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in Hildreth where she taught Sunday school for many years and served as Sunday School Superintendent. While living in Arapahoe, she was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. She was currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth. Throughout the years, she enjoyed attending many ALCA conventions.

She was a member of Hildreth Lioness Club, Forever Young Club, V.F.W. Auxiliary, and the Canasta Club. She loved to embroider and sew quilt tops for Lutheran World Relief and family members. Many family members and friends were blessed with the gifts of her crocheted afghans and dishcloths.

Survivors include her three sons, James and wife, Dorothy of Edinburg, Texas, Dennis and wife, Beverly of Norton, Kansas and Michael and wife, Roslyn of Enid, Oklahoma; two daughters, Cheryl Nelsen and husband, Terry of Bertrand, Nebraska, and Diane Deselms and husband, Mel of Cambridge, Nebraska; seven grandchildren, Jennifer, John, and Daniel Wilken, Vicki Simpson (Thor), Chris and Cory Nelsen, and Darcy Johnson (Dave); 9 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; sisters, Doris Friedrich of Littleton, Colorado, and Sherry Alberts (Gary) of Hildreth; sisters-in-law, Florence Quadhamer (Arnold) of Hildreth and Eunice Bienhoff (LaVon) of Hastings; and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; brothers, Alfred Hemje, LaMoine Hemje, Donald Hemje; sisters, Darlene Purdy, Lorraine Jane Warnken; sisters-in-law, Emily Wilken, Margaret Lonn, Pat Hemje; brothers-in-law, Lester Wilken, Orval Wilken, David Lonn, James Purdy and Mel Friedrich.

Memorial services will be Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth with Reverends Steve and Patti Byrne officiating. Burial will be prior to the memorial service at the St. Peters Lutheran Cemetery in Hildreth.

Visitation will be at the Jelden-Craig Funeral home in Hildreth on Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. with the family present from 5-6 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hildreth Library, Hildreth Emergency Squad, or Aseracare Hospice Services.

Layton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.