Wendell William Wilke
Ava, MO

Wendell William Wilke, 74 years, 11 months, and 15 days old, passed away on July 6, 2015 at Heart of the Ozarks Healthcare, Ava, MO with his wife, niece, and multiple friends by his side.

Wendell was born July 22, 1940 in Omaha, NE to Johann Wilhelm Friedrich and Fern Bertha Alvina (Flores) Wilke. He graduated from Bennington, Douglas, NE.

He was a U.S. Army Veteran and served his country from 1962 to 1968. Wendell worked as a Glass Glazer for 37 years in NE, CO and MO.
On June 9, 1990 Wendell and Fontella Marie Holden were united in marriage in Longmont, CO.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Ava.

Wendell loved his family and that means everyone. He enjoyed bowling, researching family history, traveling and working with his hands. He was known for picking up black walnuts all over Douglas County, MO.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws, Frederick Ross and LaVelda Jean (Follett) Holden and sister-in-law, Dixie Pauls.


Wendell is survived by his wife, Fontella Marie Wilke, Ava, MO, two children, Melissa Sue Koltz and husband, Gary, Lake Orion, MI and Jeremy Scott Wilke, Broomfield, CO, two grandchildren, Grace Marie and Abigail Clair Koltz, two sisters, Jodene (Gene) Cloudt and Joann (Doug) Walters, sister-in-law, Sandra Hutsell, and a host of other relatives and friends.


Funeral services for Wendell will be Sat., July 11, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO with burial in the Ava Cemetery with full military honors by Troy Herd American Legion Post 112. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to service time in the funeral home. Officiating will be Pastor Gary Koltz and Bishop Carlton Burrus. Memorials may be made to the family as a love offering.