Dorothy Mae Wilken, 84, of Joy died on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at Aledo Rehab & Health Care Center. Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church, Joy. Visitation will be 4 - 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bewley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Aledo. Burial will be at Peniel Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Joy or Joy Fire Department.

Dorothy was born on December 1, 1924, in Fayette County, Iowa the daughter of Carl L. and Etta E. Hansel Starr. She married Howard G. Wilken on November 2, 1946 in Manchester, Iowa.

Mrs. Wilken worked at the Westmer School District for 10 years as a janitor, retiring in 1981. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Joy. Dorothy enjoyed her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and the neighborhood kids. She enjoyed birds, especially hummingbirds, flowers, especially yellow roses and camping, which she did for 34 years.

Survivors (and spouses) include her husband, Howard, of 62 years; sons, Don (Marcia) Wilken of Joy, IL and Dave (Dianne) Wilken of Rose Hill, Iowa; grandchildren, Deana Wilken, Beverly DeCoster, Bill Wilken, Harry Oary, Brandi Brown, Craig Smith and Brad Wilken; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Logen Brown, Reid and Ryleigh Wilken, Kylee Oary, Karen Essig, Austin DeCoster, Gavin and Lindsey Wilken, Carrie Jo McQueen and Alexander Wilken; brothers, Don (Louise) Starr, Knoxville, IA, Carl (Bertha) Starr, Manchester, IA, and Jim Starr, Ryan, IA and sisters, Donna Smock, Ryan, IA and Velma McNeil, Anamosa, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Michael Howard Wilken, died at birth; grandson, Dave Wilken, Jr.; two brothers and two sisters.