Kenneth C. Gilkes

Kenneth C. Gilkes, 79, of rural Westby, died Saturday January 19, 2013 at Mayo Clinic Franciscan Medical Center in La Crosse. He was born June 10, 1933 in Bagley, Wis. to Charles and Lula (Yost) Gilkes and graduated from Bagley High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1954-56. Kenneth married Marilyn Sutton on July 22, 1958 in Eastman. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service in La Crosse for 25 years and also farmed at rural Westby for many years. Kenneth was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coon Valley where he was a faithful usher.

Survivors include 4 daughters, Debra of La Crosse, Francine (Bill) Gartner of Waterloo, Wis., Jeanne Gilkes of Westby and Katrina (Bruce) Schlaver of Rockland; 3 sons, Charles (Rachael) of Onalaska, Damian (Cheryl) of Onalaska and Heath (Tammy) of Westby; 11 grandchildren Jessica, Samantha and Nicholas, Alia, Katelyn and Sydney, Bryan and Emily, Alexis, Scotty and Cassie; 2 great grandchildren Isaac and Amelia; 2 sisters Glennis Whitish of Madison and Phyllis Slaght of Wauzeka; 2 brothers Ed (Dorothy) of Prairie du Chien and Terry (Marla) of Sparta and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marilyn in 1987 and daughter Trudy in 1975.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday January 24, 2013 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coon Valley. Rev. William Dhein will officiate with burial in the church cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley with a rosary service at 7 p.m. Friends may also call at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until service time. Memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic Health System Cancer Center in La Crosse or St. Mary's Catholic Church.