In Memory of David Russell Wilken

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Trinity Lutheran Church of Odebolt, Iowa. Rev. David Viggers will officiate. Committal Services following in the Odebolt Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa.  A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

David Russell Wilken passed away June 3, 2017, due to complications from appendix cancer

David was born August 2, 1957 in Ida Grove, Iowa to Russell Wilken and Joyce (Albrecht) Wilken.  The only son and youngest of 4 children, he grew up on a farm south of Odebolt.

He was baptized and confirmed in Christ at Trinity Lutheran Church in Odebolt where he became a lifelong member.  He was a member of the voter’s assembly and served in several different offices in the church over the years including the offices of president, financial secretary, and treasurer.

 David attended Odebolt-Arthur Community School, where he liked school, excelled at several sports, and graduated with the class of 1975.

His love of sports led him to Wartburg College where played basketball, but his real passion was playing on the baseball team which captured multiple conference championships.  While playing basketball, he noticed one particular cheerleader. Although dating her only once while in college, he found the love of his life, Twyla. He graduated from Wartburg in 1979.

After college, David lived and worked in Des Moines and continued to pursue Twyla.  He and Twyla married in 1983 and moved back to Odebolt to live on the farm.  David helped his father farm and at that time, encouraged by his uncle, Loren Albrecht, started a career in the auction business.

He and Twyla were blessed with 3 children, Blake, Alayna, and Tate.   They were all very involved growing up, especially in sports, and David and Twyla stayed busy attending and helping with games and events.  He cherished those years forever. 

In 1992 when his father decided to retire from farming, David began a banking career that lasted 24 years. Although he started at Liberty Bank and Trust, he spent most of his years working for United Bank of Iowa holding various positions.  The last 8 years he served as senior vice president/chief ag loan officer.  He retired from banking in 2016 due to his battle with cancer, but always considered himself fortunate to be one of the lucky ones that enjoyed his job.  He felt blessed to have such a good employer as United Bank of Iowa.

He continued working auctions throughout his banking career and worked primarily with Mike Green, whom he enjoyed working with immensely.  David was proud to say that they worked over a thousand auctions together and never once had a cross word between them. 

In recent years he especially enjoyed the annual family vacation to Colorado, going to Florida with Twyla for spring training baseball, and going out to an Italian restaurant with the kids or an old fashioned Sunday dinner at home with family.  Good food was always something he enjoyed.

An avid golfer and a Minnesota Twins fan, David also enjoyed pheasant hunting, travel, and always took a great interest in maps, geography, and history.  He was also a farm-boy at heart, with a deep love of agriculture and living on the family farm.

Throughout his nearly 3-year battle with cancer, David continued to live and fight with dignity.  He found peace through his trust in the Lord and never mourned his own diagnosis or situation.  David met many people in his numerous visits to hospitals and clinics.  In sharing his story with them, he touched multiple people with his faith and spiritual strength.  He remained a faithful servant to God, right up until his death.

Left to cherish David’s memory:  Twyla, his wife of 33 years and 364 days, his children Blake (wife Traci), Alayna, and Tate (fiancée Kelsey), his mother, Joyce, his 3 sisters, Mary Jo Miller, Kathy Keefe, and GayNelle Doll, and several nieces/nephew, cousins, and friends.  He was preceded in death by his father, Russell.