Rose E. Wilken

Funeral Services for Rose E. Wilken will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Nebraska with Reverend Tim Glendening officiating. Interment will be held following the service at the Hope Lutheran Cemetery.

RosElla Esther Wilken, 86 years of age, of Bertrand, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at the Bertrand Nursing Home. Rose was born on March 17, 1930 in Oxford, Nebraska, the youngest of ten children born to August P. and Minnie Mae (Wahl) Lavene. She received her primary education from District #14 in Gosper County and then attended Bertrand High School, where she graduated with the class of 1947.

On January 11, 1948, she was united in marriage to Gene Wilken and to this union four children were born: Linda, Danny, Dennis and Dale. Rose loved raising her children and enjoyed helping on the farm alongside Gene. Rose held many part-time jobs throughout her lifetime, all of which revolved around people. Her loving and giving personality to others will always be remembered.

Her passions in life were talking on the phone, visiting with family and friends, and baking pies and cookies for everyone she knew. Most of all she treasured the time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also had a special place in her heart for many other children who called her, "Grandma Rose." Rose was also a longtime member of Hope Lutheran Church, where she was involved in various activities throughout the years.

On June 23, 2004, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gene.

Besides her husband and parents; Rose was preceded in death by her son, Dale Wilken in infancy; four brothers: Albert Lavene and his wife, Elnora, Lloyd Lavene and his wife, June, Paul Lavene and his wife, Dorothy and George Lavene in infancy; five sisters: Ethel Forster and her husband, Ralph, Mabel Fastenau and her husband, Fred, Ruth Todd and her husband, Bill, Valva York and her husband, Donald, and Myrtle Lavene in infancy; and brother-in-law, LeRoy Wilken.

She leaves to celebrate her life; her children: Linda Schmidt and her husband, Farrel of Bertrand, Danny Wilken and his wife, Jan of Smithfield and Dennis Wilken and his wife, Lila of Bertrand; seven grandchildren: Kristie Dugan and her husband, Jared, Dana Meyer and her husband, Allan, Sara Schmidt, Heath Wilken, Joni Suhr and her husband, John, Tanya Wilken and Lacy Fritz and her husband, Mike; thirteen great-grandchildren: Ashton, Chase, Brenna, and Jed Dugan, Logan Johnson, McKayla, Clayton, and Cauy Meyer, Whitney Schmidt, Morgan and Kolt Suhr, and Sawyer and Fletcher Fritz; sister-in-law, Betty Wilken of Bertrand; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Rose's honor and will be designated at a later date to support special non-profits that were important to Rose.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.