Evangeline Wilkens

Evangeline Virginia Wilkens was born August 11, 1918, in Newkirk, Iowa to Benjamin and Fannie te Grotenhuis. She was baptized and made confession of faith at the Newkirk Reformed Church, in Newkirk, Iowa. She graduated in 1935, from Newkirk High School as salutorian of her class. She married Cornelius Wilkens on May 24, 1939. They farmed near Archer, Iowa and in 1959, moved to a farm near Maynard. They moved to Clara City in 1970. She worked several years at VSC in Clara City. She was a member of the Bethany Reformed Church. Evangeline loved music, which included playing the piano and singing. She also enjoyed sewing, watching the Minnesota Twins, playing cards with her friends and doing volunteer work. Cornelius passed away in 1985. Evangeline passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at the Clara City Care Center. She was 90 years old. Surviving are her daughter, Cheryl (Dennis) Boike; son, Roger (Linda) Wilkens all of Clara City; five grandchildren: Chad (Heidi) Boike, Ryan (JoEllen) Boike, Dawn (Bruce) Johnson, Kyle Boike and Rhodney (Cindy) Wilkens; six great grandchildren: Daniel Boike, Isaac Boike, Sabryn Boike, Noah Johnson, Leah Johnson and Hailey Wilkens; two step great grand children: Samantha Narragon and Macaulay Lambert; one sister Audrey Van Klompenburg of Marshall; and a brother-in-law A.J. Van Zee of Sheldon, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one sister Vivian Van Zee, one brother-in-law John Van Klompenberg and an infant son Rodney.