Howard G. Wilken, 87, of Joy, was reunited with his wife of 62 years, Dorothy, on Saturday, July 18, 2009. He died at Trinity Medical Center West, Rock Island, Illinois. Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, at the First Baptist Church, Joy, IL. Visitation will be 4 - 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bewley Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Aledo, Illinois. Burial will be at the Peniel Cemetery with military rites by the Mercer County V.F.W. Post 1571. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Joy or the Joy Fire Department.

Mr. Wilken was born January 27, 1922 in Oelwein, Iowa, the son of Gerd F. and Hazel R. Hensch Wilken. He married Dorothy Mae Starr on November 2, 1946 in Manchester, Iowa. She died on April 11, 2009.

Howard retired from the Hon Corp in Muscatine, Iowa in 1985. He was a World War II Army Veteran serving in the Normandy Invasion. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Joy, Illinois. He was a member of the V. F. W., Knoxville, Iowa; American Legion, Oelwein, Iowa; Hub City Heritage Corp, Oelwein, Iowa and Act for Autism. He enjoyed his family, camping, fishing, woodworking and old trains and tractors.

Survivors (and spouses) include his 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; sister, Luella Carpenter, Norwich, New York, brothers, Robert Spragg, Davenport, Iowa and Dale Wilken, Marion, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his parents; infant son, Michael Howard Wilken; grandson, Dave Wilken, Jr; 3 sisters and 1 brother.