Walter Wilkening - Wood Lake

Walter D. Wilkening, age 78 of Wood Lake passed away on Friday, January 16, 2015 at the Redwood Area Hospital in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, January 23, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. Visitation is one hour prior to the service on Friday. Online condolences may be placed at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family. Walter Duane Wilkening was born on September 14, 1936 to Walter Sr. and Mable (Plath) Wilkening in Granite Falls, Minnesota, Yellow Medicine County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake and graduated from Wood Lake High School in 1954. After High School, he continued his education at Mankato State University where he studied Business and Accounting. He served his country in the United States Marine Corp and was honorably discharged in June of 1957. Over the years, Walter had several different occupations including Elevator sales and management, Insurance adjuster and as a security officer for Prairie’s Edge Casino in Granite Falls. He lived in Hanska and New Ulm Minnesota before moving to Reno, Nevada. He later returned to the Wood Lake area where he remained the rest of his life. He was a life-long member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. Walter enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing Whist and other cards, baseball, and Wood Working. On Friday, January 16, 2015, Walter passed away at the Redwood Area Hospital in Redwood Falls, Minnesota at the age of 78 years old. He is survived by his two children, Laura (Justin) Heal of St. Paul and Lana (significant other, Paul Mack) Clark of Woodbury; four grandchildren Ronan, Christopher, Carter and Cole; siblings Robert Wilkening of Michigan and Sharon Opheim of Buffalo, and nieces, nephews, and many extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, Earl, Belva, Lois, Don, Shirley, and Rich. Blessed be his memory.