Carol Jean Wilken

Funeral services for Carol J. Wilken, 88, of Greene, will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church in Greene with Pastor Cathy Belles officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 at Retz Funeral Home in Greene and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Carol Jean was born on April 18, 1931 at the family home south of Greene, to Harold Amos and Carol Evelyn (Freeman) Kingery and passed away Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage, Iowa. She graduated from Greene High School in 1949 and attended Hamilton School of Commerce for one year.

Carol was united in marriage to Dale Wilken on Dec. 10, 1950 at the Presbyterian Church in Greene. They were blessed with five children.

She worked various jobs before being hired by the Farmer’s Coop Society in Greene. She retired in 1992 after 25 years. Dale and Jean later divorced but continued a family relationship with holiday get-togethers and of course, dancing.

Jean loved bookkeeping jobs, being with her children and grandchildren, friends, music and dancing, and playing her keyboard and accordion. After retirement she entertained at various nursing homes and senior centers.

Jean enjoyed house plants, and working her flower and vegetable gardens.

In 1993, Jean started writing poems. A relative surprised her with a painting of bluebells after she had written about the field of bluebells on the farm. She was very proud to be published in the “Shades of Greene” 1995 collection of poetry and the “Reflections”, a poetry quarterly of 1993. As dementia took away many memories, she could still recite her poems word for word.

Jean is survived by three daughters: Linda Lenz, of Osage, and her children and grandchildren, Rob Meek, Hayley, Hunter, Charity and Tristin of Charles City; Lisa (Jeff) Bramer, Dillon, Hayden and Tucker of Osage; John Meek (Lisa), Kamden, Brianna and Nathan of Charles City; Rick Meek(Amber), Caleb, Coryne and Cooper of Osage; Step- sons Tony Lenz and Ellen of St. Ansgar; Nick(Katelind) Lenz, Thomas and Lauren of Osage.Lana (Dan) Miller, Charles City and her children and grandchildren, Michael Garrett, Lauren and Sydney of Waterloo; Tanya Garrett(Justin), Enrique, Jasmin and Autumn of Colorado Springs, CO; step-sons Dustin (Jennifer) and Kaden of Spencer and Darren (Jackie) Miller of Charles City. LeAnn (Tom) Merfeld of Waverly and her children and grandchildren, Christy (Jeremy) Kessens and Angie (Matt) Gilles, Tristin, Drew and Owen all of Waterloo. One son, Leland (Lisa) Wilken, Adel; his children and grandchildren, Brian of Adel; Bradley, Alicea and Chance of Niceville, FL.; Jolynn (Thomas) Blair, Brylie, Harlee and Wesley of Minburn. sister: Marlene Lauber, Greene; many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dale Wilken, daughter Lynette Wall and her son Larry Wall Jr., her sister Pauline Ruffridge, brothers-in-law Donavan Ruffridge and Ronald Lauber and her parents.

Her family want to thank Hospice of North Iowa and especially Faith Lutheran Home of Osage for their patience and untiring care of our Mother.

Memorials may be direct to the family at P.O. Box 219 Greene, Iowa 50636.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St. Greene; 641-823-4457; www.retzfh.com.