Helen Melba Wilkening

Helen Melba (Hastad) Wilkening was born July 1, 1922 in Hantho Township, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, the daughter of John and Jonetta (Moen) Hastad.  She was baptized on July 27, 1922 at Minnesota Valley Lutheran Church, where she was also later confirmed.  Helen was the 10th  of 11 children.  At the age of three, her mother was killed in an automobile accident, so she was raised by her father and her siblings.  Helen was raised in the Appleton area, attended Hantho School  and graduated from Appleton High School.  After high school, Helen attended Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, where she earned her RN degree.  On June 21, 1946 she was united in marriage to Walter Wilkening at Minnesota Valley Lutheran Church.  This union was blessed with four children: Craig, JoNette, Lynette, and Annette.

Walter and Helen made their home in rural Appleton.  Over the years Helen worked as a secretary, as a waitress in the Candy Kitchen, a clerk at JC Penny, a nurse at the Appleton Hospital, and was the first school nurse at Appleton Public Schools (1966 -1976).  She was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church, Correll, where she was a long-time member of the Ladies Aid/LWML.  Helen enjoyed playing Bridge and Rook, gardening, knitting, sewing, quilting, traveling,baking and reading.  She was a member of the Bridge Club, Sewing Club, Homemakers, and Garden Club.  Helen was a woman who lived her Christian faith through a life of love and service to others, especially her family and friends.

Helen passed away Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Appleton Area Health Services –Care Center.  She attained 94 years, 3 months, and 3 days of age.  Helen is survived by her children: Craig Wilkening of Appleton, JoNette (Allen) Brogaard of Alexandria, Lynette (Terry) Finnern of Alexandria, and Annette (Timothy) Kuck of Edina; 6 grandchildren: Christa (Keegan Tierney) Finnern, Elizabeth (Nick Allen) Brogaard-Allen, Brady (Amy) Finnern, Jonathan (Kristin) Brogaard, Leah Kuck, and Tyler Kuck; 9 great-grandchildren: Kajsa, Averil, Elias and Xavia Finnern, Lux and Isolde Tierney, Hanna and Aiden Allen, Mckinley Brogaard; brother Morris Hastad of Madison; brother-in-law, Frank Aiello of Martinez, CA; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Wilkening in 1982; parents, John and Jonetta Hastad; siblings and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law:  Iver (Adelaide) Hastad, Helmer (Myrtle) Hastad, Ruth (Olaf) Torstenson, Selma (Bardolf) Torstenson, Glenda (Norris) Nelson, Juliet (Orville) Avelsgaard, Jane Williamson, Lillie Aiello, Johnnie (Delores) Hastad, Delores M. Hastad, Irene (Hugh) Lilevjen, Clifford Wilkening, and Warren Wilkening.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Appleton Area Health Services Foundation.

Blessed be the memory of Helen M. Wilkening.