Arlin Wilkens, age 79 of Sheldon, IA, passed away at Prairie View Nursing Home in Sanborn, IA on Sunday, January 26th, 2014. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 30th at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Archer, IA. Rev. Cory Flannigan will officiate.
Visitation will be at the Sanborn Funeral Home Chapel in Sanborn from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29th, with the family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. Burial will be held at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.
The Sanborn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for 79 year-old Arlin Wilkens of Sheldon.
Arlin Marie Wilkens, the daughter of Thomas and Alice (Saupe) Harms, was born at her parent’s home in Archer, IA on March 13, 1934. She spent her youth in the Archer area and attended the Archer Consolidated School graduating with the class of 1951. Arlin continued her education at Morningside College in Sioux City, IA and obtained her teaching certificate there.
On June 22, 1955, Arlin was united in marriage to Robert W. Wilkens at the Methodist Church in Archer. They were blessed with three sons: Kent, Leon and Joel. Arlin’s teaching career took her to schools at Sutherland, Primghar and Archer. She also found time to give piano lessons while raising her family. She and Bob lived on three different farms in Carroll Township during their married life, eventually settling on the Wilkens Family Farm in 1963. In 2007, they retired from farming and moved to the town of Sheldon, IA. Bob passed away on August 1, 2012 and Arlin continued to live at their home in Sheldon. On July 8, 2013, Arlin moved to Prairie View Nursing Home in Sanborn, IA where she passed away on January 26, 2014 at the age of 79.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Archer, serving many years as organist and pianist. She also enjoyed singing, and shared her talent in the church choir. Ceramics, playing piano, gardening and crochet were also among her spare time enjoyments, but being with her grandchildren was the most treasured.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children: Kent Wilkens of Archer, IA, Leon Wilkens of Des Moines, IA and Joel (Tracey), Keith, Brandon and Caitlin Wilkens of Boyden, IA; brother, Ronald (Pat) Harms of North Carolina; many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Mac McIntosh.
