Vernon Wilken

Vern Wilken, age 89 of Nashua, Iowa died Saturday, September 13, 2014, at the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home - Olson Chapel with Pastor Afredo Agtarap from the United Methodist Church presiding. Interment with military honors will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nashua with Joshua Fisher, Jordan Fisher, Tanner Baldwin, Jamie Baldwin, Drew Wilken and Kaden Wilken serving as pallbearers. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 15, 2014, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home-Olson Chapel, Nashua. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Vernon F. Wilken was born November 18, 1924, on the Wilken family farm near Clarksville in rural Bremer County, IA, the son of Edwin and Malinda (Klunder) Wilken. He received his education in rural country school. On March 16, 1945, he married Juanita Bonnie Jordan and to this union three children were born. Shortly after their marriage, Vern was inducted into the United States Army and served for two years as a military policeman in Berlin, Germany. Following his service, the couple farmed a brief period. In 1956 the couple moved to Nashua where they started their auto salvage business. Vern was also a school bus driver for nearly 40 years as well as a rural mail carrier. Vern was an active volunteer fireman and served as Assistant Chief for many years. He was a charter member of the Nashua Boat Club and a member of the Nashua V.F.W. Post. Vern loved his Cadillac's, camping, traveling and visiting with family and friends. He always had a story to tell. Survivors include his special friend, Ginny Jones of Nashua; one daughter, Judy Beutler of Reno, NV; two sons, James (Cindi) Wilken and Jackie (Sherry) Wilken all of Nashua; seven grandchildren, Paul Mangano, Tom Mangano, Jason Eppers, Kim Wilken Coblentz, Angie Baldwin, Andy Wilken and Abby Wilken; fourteen great-grandchildren, Jakob, Madisen, Brock, and Nikolas Mangano, Ashley and Island Mangano, Shania and Madelyn Eppers, Joshua and Jordan Fisher, Tanner and Jamie Baldwin, and Drew and Kaden Wilken; one sister, Violet Freerks of Clarksville; one brother, Walter (Donna) Wilken of Clarksville; one sister-in-law; Marjorie Olson of Nashua. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Bonnie on October 27, 1998, a son-in-law, John Beutler; three brothers-in-law, Wendell Jordan, Oliver Freerks and Bill Olson; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Jordan.