Leslie E. Wilken

NOTE: WE ARE SHARING THIS ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY. SEE FULL FUNERAL DETAILS IN COLUMBUS, WI. Jensen Funeral & Cremation in Columbus is assisting the family. Please visit their website or contact them for any questions regarding service information. Thank You!

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COLUMBUS—Leslie “Les” Eldred Wilken died on his 87th birthday, Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Home Again Assisted Living in Columbus, WI. Les was born on March 20, 1938 in Watseka, IL to Eldred and Berniece (Ristow) Wilken. His family lived on several farms in the Onarga, IL area where Les worked long and hard, driving tractor by age eight. His childhood highlights included outdoor fun swimming in the creek, skating, and sledding, helping his dad with farm work, and raising Hampshire sheep for a 4-H project that turned into a family business. Les attended a one room country school for four years before going to Onarga schools in town. He graduated from Onarga High School in 1956 where he was actively involved in athletics and clubs, holding leadership roles. Les lettered in track and football and was starting guard on his senior year’s undefeated football team. In his summers from age 16 through college, Les worked on a silo construction crew in multiple states, which in addition to his scholarship, afforded him the opportunity to attend college.

Les earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). While studying there, he met his future wife, Lynne Leuck, a student at UW-Milwaukee, on a blind date. They were married on March 17, 1962, and lived in the Milwaukee area before moving to Kewaunee, WI where they raised their family. Les started his long career working on the space program at a General Motors division in Milwaukee. He then designed agricultural harvesting and food processing equipment for over 30 years at the Hamachek Machine Co. in Kewaunee, where Les obtained several patents. After 15 more years with the Hughes Co. in Columbus designing similar equipment, he retired at age 73. Les was a six-decade Rotary Club member, participating in both Kewaunee and Columbus, particularly proud of their service projects and global polio eradication efforts. He was a 4-H woodworking leader, served on multiple church councils, and was a charter member of Grace Lutheran Church in Kewaunee, personally climbing to the rooftop to install shingles.

A tireless worker, when not on the job, Les grew large vegetable and flower gardens and completed home renovation projects. He enjoyed many memorable family trips to Europe and Florida and experienced the adventure of crossing the Iron Curtain for business. In his down time, he loved watching television detective stories. Above all, Les loved his family, was proud of them, and would do anything for them. Due to Tim’s dedication, Les was able to live at home until his final weeks.

Les is survived by two sons David (Sara) Wilken of Stratford, ON, Canada, Timothy Wilken of Columbus, WI; daughter Laura (Michael) Steinberg of Appleton, WI; seven grandchildren Izak Wilken, Rebeka Keys, Abraham Wilken, Alice Wilken, Meghan (Alex) Harris, Angela Steinberg (fiancé Josh Hanson), Audrey Steinberg; brother Irvin (Patricia) Wilken of Chatsworth, IL; sister Carol (Michael) Mottler of Conway, AR; in-laws Bonnie (E. Richard) Allen of Mechanicsburg, PA; Carl Grabman of Packwaukee, WI; nieces and nephews Keith (Penny) Wilken, John (Tania) Wilken, Sarah (Ben) Scarboro, Jeffrey (Kathy) Allen, Katherine (Matt) Marino, Carrie (Chad) Ratz. He was preceded in death by his wife Lynne (Leuck) Wilken; parents Eldred and Berniece Wilken; nephew Dean Dickenson; mother-in-law Ruth Leuck; father-in-law Joseph Leuck; sister-in-law Elizabeth Grabman.

Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 P.M., with visitation beginning at 2:00 P.M., on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at Faith Lutheran Church, 120 Faith Drive, Columbus. Rev. Andrew Perger and Rev. John Snider will officiate. Interment will be on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park, Kenosha. Memorial donations may be made to the Columbus/Fall River Rotary Club, PO Box 272, Columbus, Faith Lutheran Church, or a charity of your choice.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Faith Lutheran Church – Columbus, WI Facebook page which can also be accessed from the church website faithcolumbuswi.org and on the Faith Columbus YouTube channel: youtube.com/@FaithColumbusWI

We encourage you to share your online condolences with Les’s family at jensenfuneralandcremation.com

The family would like to thank Home Again Assisted Living in Columbus and Rainbow Hospice for the wonderful care that Les received in his final stages of life.