Shirley Wilking

A visitation will be held Sunday, April 30, 2017 from 3pm-6pm at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato and one hour prior to the service at the church.  Funeral service will be Monday, May 1, 2017 at 10:30am at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in North Mankato.  Graveside service will be held immediately following at Pilgrims Rest cemetery. 

Shirley Klutz Wilking of Mankato passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2017 and called home to join her Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  She was born on March 4, 1936 in St. James to Elta and Henry Klutz.  In her younger years, Shirley loved ice/roller skating, and dancing at George’s Ballroom where she met her husband Warren Wilking of Nicollet.  Having just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, they were married on January 13, 1957 and had two children Kim and Jon.  Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to everyone.  Shirley’s love and loyalty to her husband was unwavering as they endured job changes, household moves, illnesses, and the loss of their daughter together.  As a mother, she was known for making sure her kids were well-behaved, well-dressed, and well-fed.  Friends and family alike anxiously anticipated the sound of her dinner bell to gather at the dinner table where nobody left hungry.  She enjoyed antiquing, attending her kids’ and grandkids’ sporting, musical, and school events, hosting holiday dinners, cooking everyone’s favorite dishes, and having coffee with her long-time church friends every Sunday. 

Shirley is best known for her love and concern for others.  She spent hours picking out just the right greeting card for every holiday, birthday, wedding, and anniversary.  Shirley celebrated every holiday by meticulously decorating every inch of her home, and making sure every gift came from the heart.  While Fall was her favorite decorating season, Christmas was her favorite holiday.  Family members will always remember her “Christmas envelopes” used to ensure that the same amount of money was spent on each person to be fair, and the Christmas ornament she gave them every year.  As her family grew, she made sure that everyone was loved equally and unconditionally.  Shirley’s priority was to her family.  Often the peacemaker, her philosophy was to always keep the line of communication open, serve others before yourself, and never say anything that might hurt someone else’s feelings.  Shirley left a legacy of love, forgiveness, patience, equality, kindness, humility, devotion, and selflessness.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Kim Born.  She is survived by her husband, Warren Wilking; son, Jon (Karin) Wilking; son-in-law, Dave Born; brothers, Kenny Klutz and Bruce (Marilyn) Klutz.  Shirley has four grandchildren, Dan (Mairin) Born, Jon (Staci) Born, Taylor (Josh) Goodrich, and Jordan Wilking; and seven great-grandchildren, Gracie, Jack, Luke, Nash, Marley, Max, and Jayden.