John Wilkes
John Wilkes, age 69, of Waukon, formerly of Decorah and Marion, died Monday, July 23, 2018 at his home in Waukon. Memorial service was held Friday, July 27 at Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler with Rev. Aaron Junge officiating. Interment was held at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Lawler with Military Rites accorded by the American Legion of Spillville and Lawler.
John Steven Wilkes was born February 5, 1949 to Robert and Emily (DeNoylles) Wilkes at Riceville. At the age of four the family moved to Osage and in 1963 to Decorah. John graduated from Thomas Roberts High School in Decorah and was in the Army Reserve from 1969-1974.
At the age of 14 he started going to livestock sales and buying livestock. The Decorah Sales Commission was built by John’s father, Robert, and together they held weekly livestock sales. In 1977 they sold the sale barn and continued buying cattle privately until he retired. John was the fourth generation to be in the livestock business and he passed the love of livestock knowledge to his son, Steve.
August 26, 1972 he was united in marriage to Charlet Franzen at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Lawler. To this union two children were born, Michele and Steven. John was a member of the Clarence Bily Post 467 of the American Legion in Spillville. He loved to travel, take rides through the countryside looking at the crops and livestock, going on picnics, being with his grandchildren and family get-togethers.
John is survived by his wife, Charlet Wilkes of Waukon; his daughter, Michele (David) Mikkelsen of Waukon, his son, Steven (Natasha) Wilkes of Waukon; his grandchildren, Alaina, Cara and Hayden Mikkelsen and Brooklyn, Lillianna and Landon Wilkes; his brothers, Richard (Marty) Wilkes of Maple Plain, MN, Robert (Joyce) Wilkes of Cedar Rapids and Thomas (Mary) Wilkes of Decorah; his in-laws, Allan (Betty) Franzen of Fredericksburg, Bonnie (David) Kutz of Waterloo, Janice (David) Bryne of Lawler, Randy (Karen) Franzen of Lawler, Cheryl (Gary) Garlick of Mankato, MN, Leon (Lori) Franzen of Fredericksburg, Barb (Rich) Best of Waucoma and Bev (Leo) Dowd of New Hampton; and many nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Emily (DeNoylles) Wilkes; his mother- and father-in-law, Louis and Arlene (Hageman) Franzen; and his brother-in-law, Kevin McDermott.
Schluter-Balik Funeral Home of Decorah assisted the family with arrangements.
