Merideth Joan Wilken, 75, of Nickerson Kansas, passed away on November 20, 2021 at Hospice House in Hutchinson Kansas. Cremation has already taken place at Old Mission Heritage Funeral home. A celebration of life will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson Kansas on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 2pm with an ice cream social to follow.
Merideth was born on February 3, 1946 in Swea City, Iowa to Warner Wade and Sarah Belle Johnson. She married William "Bill" Wilken on February 4, 1978 in Hutchinson Kansas. She worked as a substance abuse counselor at Reno County Community Corrections for over a decade before semi-retiring to work as a driver for St. Francis for 4 years. She then semi-retired again to travel with her husband and work as gate guards in oil fields for the last 5 years.
She was involved in NA, a member of the First United Methodist Church, a room mother, and belonged to a writers guild. She loved going to the movies, singing crazy songs on road trips, camping, reading, and eating ice cream. She also loved designing cards and calendars for family and friends, and spending time with family and friends playing board and card games.
Merideth is preceded in death by both of her parents, brother Jerry Johnson, sister Connie Barber, and grandson Christopher Freeman. She is survived by her husband Bill Wilken, children: Teresa Gore, Linda Cooper, Kathryn Wilken, Wil Wilken, and Carolyn Holderness. She also survived by her brothers Dennis Johnson and Joe Johnson, her grandchildren; Dezaraé Haley, Britney Sutton, Bryant Sutton, Dustin Belote, Danny Wilken, and Christyn Howard, ten great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you adopt an angel from a local angel tree or donate to St. Jude in her honor.