Lola May Wilke

Lola May Wilke was born in Dickens, NE which is in Hayes County on May 5, 1934. She was the seventh one of 11 children. Lola went to school in Dickens, but later moved to Wallace, Nebraska, where she graduated. She was the only one of her siblings whoever went to college. She went to McCook Junior College for two years. After that she began working by teaching school at St. Ann's Country School.

On March 10, 1954, she married the love of her life, Roland Wilke. They were married in North Platte, NE. They were married nearly 60 years. After living in Texas for awhile, they settled down in the Denver area to raise their family. They had two boys they were very fond of. Lola wanted to spend every day with them that she could. So she was a happy homemaker until they were in junior high. At that time she began working for the National Camera Company and worked for many other companies as an electric soldering technician for circuit boards, used in many appliances. Roland was proud of her very intricate work that she could do.

Lola loved being a wife, mother, sister, grandmother. Her boys and her family were very important to her. She loved camping with her brothers and sisters, doing things always together. She truly made friends very easily, because of her great smile. She was a very happy woman.

Lola also loved to crochet. She made and supplied many people with Beautiful Afghans. She also loved reading and playing pinochle. And loved the classic country music.

She began having mini strokes and later lost a lot of use on her right arm and hand as well as her inability to speak. She also developed COPD and had limited health and energy. When she moved to El Dorado Nursing Home, she enjoyed the activities of the place and had a positive attitude being there. She made many dear friends with the nursing and all the staff, and several residents who loved her happy smile and Yeah!

We will miss Lola's smile and positive attitude. We will miss her laughs and playing her favorite dice game with her.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Roland, who passed away only 39 days before her; four brothers; Edgar, Ed, Marlin, Melvin and 3 sisters; Jeraldean, Fern and Annabelle.

She is survived by her two sons, Marvin (Kimberly) Wilke of McCook, NE, Melvin (Debra) Wilke of Castle Rock, CO; one brother, Dale (Beverly) Bailey of Trenton, NE; two sisters, Shirley (Byron) Peters of McCook, NE and Twila (Roger) Olson of Douglas, NE; sister-in-law, Donna Bailey of McCook, NE; five grandchildren, Brandy, Jennifer, Kelly, Katrina, and Kory; 11 great- grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given in her name.