Beverly J Wilke

Lester, IA Beverly Wilke, age 82 of Lester, IA died Thursday, February 19, 2015 at Sibley Nursing & Rehab Center in Sibley, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 24th at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Dan Kordahl officiating. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Lester, IA. Visitation will be Monday, February 23rd from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funerals Home of Rock Rapids. Beverly June Wilke was born November 12, 1932 at Granite, Iowa, the daughter of Cornelius and Leona (Nicloy) Waagmeester. She attended Larchwood Public School and graduated in 1950. She began working at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator and was soon promoted to supervisor. She was united in marriage to Wayne R. Wilke on December 9, 1951 in Larchwood, IA. Together they lived in Rock Rapids, IA until Wayne entered the service and they moved to Fort Hood, TX. In 1955 Wayne received his honorable discharge and they moved back to Rock Rapids. In 1965 they moved to their home in Lester, IA and Bev worked at the U.S. Postal Service as a Post Service Clerk for the following 13 years. Bev was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rock Rapids, active with I.L.C.W. and other church activities. She also was a member of Edward Bouwman Post No. 683, American Legion Women's Auxiliary, where she served as President and Chaplain, and the Lester Betterment Group. She enjoyed organizing Easter Egg Hunts and riding motorcycle with Wayne. She and Wayne attended the Sturgis Bike Rally for many years. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter, attending all of their activities. On January 5, 2015 Bev entered Sibley Nursing & Rehab Center and remained there until this past Thursday, February 19, 2015. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Wayne R. Wilke of Lester, IA; two children, Jeff (wife, Kathi) Wilke of Lester, IA and Karen (husband, Dan) Berdahl of Sioux Falls, SD; four grandchildren, Michael (wife, Nicole) Wilke of Columbia, MO, Joshua (wife, Jenifer) Berdahl of Worland, WY, Kelsey (husband, Michael) Sjaarda of Tea, SD and Miranda Berdahl of Omaha, NE; a great-granddaughter, Emersyn Berdahl; one brother, Robert Waagmeester of Dell Rapids, SD; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius and Leona Waagmeester; and two brothers, Gordon and Merle Waagmeester.