OLA F. WILKE

JACKSON -- Ola F. Wilke, 85, of Jackson died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 16, 1913, near Oak Ridge, son of Lewis and Bertie Crites Wilke. He married Ruby Gribler Dec. 18, 1937. She survives.

He was a farmer near Kurreville for many years and also worked at the former International Shoe Co. in Jackson and Cape Girardeau. When he retired in 1979, he was a foreman at the Florsheim shoe factory in Cape Girardeau.

He was a lifelong member of the Old Salem Methodist Church near Millersville. He and his wife had been married for 61 years.

He also is survived by two sons, Lonnie Wilke of St. Louis and Gary Wilke of Dallas, Texas; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral chapel, with the Rev. Chris McCutchen officiating.

Burial will be at Russell Heights Cemetery.