Verne Ellis Wilke

May 13, 1933 - May 22, 2012

Brodhead - Verne E. Wilke, age 79, passed away on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Nazareth Health and Rehabilitation Center in Stoughton, WI. He was born on May 13, 1933 in Magnolia Township, Rock County, WI, the son of Verne W. and Hattie (Fromholtz) Wilke. He married Rosemary Sands on August 22, 1952 at the Orfordville Lutheran Church. Verne graduated from Orfordville High School in 1951, serving in the U.S. Army from 1953 until 1955. He was employed by Fairbanks in Beloit and then farmed for over 50 years in Rock County until his retirement in 1997. He enjoyed oil painting landscapes, woodcarving, restoring tractors, collecting antique bottles and vintage tractors and arrowheads found on his farm. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rosemary; a son, Steven (Marilyn) Wilke; a daughter, Christine (Dan) Drefahl, all of Brodhead; two grandsons, Samuel and Maxwell Wilke; a granddaughter, Stephanie Drefahl; a brother, Louis (Virginia) Wilke, Footville; nieces and nephews, Dan Jorgensen, Sylvia Murray, Ed Jorgensen, Kelly Magsamen, Bill and David Sands; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Beverly Joyce Jorgensen Ryan. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 26, 2012, at the D.L. NEWCOMER FUNERAL HOME, BRODHEAD, WI, with Pastor David Krohn officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brodhead. Visitation will be from noon until time of services at the funeral home.