Hugo Steven Wilke

Hugo Steven Wilke, 89, of St. Rose, died Saturday, February 10, 2018 at his home. He was born May 25, 1928 in St. Rose, the son of Ben A. and Anna, nee Schrage, Wilke, Sr. He married Mary Ruth Kalmer May 25, 1954 in Damiansville and she preceded him in death on April 2, 2005.

Hugo is survived by his four daughters, Mary Lou (Roger) Wolfe of Cordova, TN, Jane Sheridan of Maryland Heights, MO, Diane (David) Spradling of Evansville, IN, and Lucy (Mark) Hemker of Bartelso, IL; eight grandchildren, Jeremy (Laurie) Hemker, Kristin (Terry) Jordan, Megan (Mark) Hoelzer, Robyn (Rob) Fogle, Leslie (special friend, Trey) Sheridan, Ross (special friend, Abby) Sheridan, Cody (Liz) Spradling, and Chad (special friend, Andrea) Spradling; eight great-grandchildren, Avery, Jayce, and Sydney Hemker, Elijah and Adelaide Jordan, Samuel Winterstein, and Ava and Eli Spradling; three brothers, Ben Wilke, Jr., Tom Wilke, and Roman Wilke; two sisters, Genevieve Thole and Anna Weis; two brothers-in-law, Ralph Thole and Jerome Koerkenmeier; and his special friend, Florence Beer.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Tom Sheridan; three sisters, Sister Dolores Wilke, Thecla Clements, and Rosemary Wilke in infancy; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Madelyn Wilke, Otto Thole, Willie Weis, Judy Wilke, Rosemary Wilke, Herb Clements, Verena & Emil Rensing, Marcella & Leo Varel, Lawrence & Virginia Kalmer, Margaret Thole, and Mary Rita Koerkenmeier.

Mr. Wilke was a rural letter carrier in Trenton; a farmer; and sold fertilizer for Agri-Co. Hugo was a veteran and Purple Heart recipient of the United States Army having served in the Korean War. He was a member of St. Rose Parish, the National Rural Letter Carrier’s Association, the American Legion Post 252 in Breese, the Breese Knights of Columbus, Catholic War Veteran’s, Imjin Chapter Korean War Veteran’s, a charter life member of the Korean War Veteran National Museum and Library, the Highland VFW Post 5694, the St. Rose Development Club, and the Disabled American Veteran’s Post 100 in Trenton.

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 17, 2018 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Breese with Rev. Ed Schaefer officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at St. Rose Cemetery in St. Rose.

Friends may call Friday, February 16, 2018 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, February 17, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at Nordike Funeral Home in Breese.

Memorials may be made to St. Rose Parish or the Adorers of the Blood of Christ and will be received at the funeral home.