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Wilkey, Darrell H.
Darrell H. Wilkey, 91, of Marion, passed away Monday, Dec. 23, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids from complications of a recent fall. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids. The Rev. Dr. Howard Chapman will officiate. Burial, with military honors by VFW Post 788, will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be one hour before the service.
Darrell H. Wilkey was born Nov. 1, 1922, in Kenwood, Iowa, the son of Curtis M. and Ruth E. (Wood) Wilkey and the older brother of Larry C. Wilkey. He grew up and attended schools in both Mount Vernon and Cedar Rapids.
He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served on the LST 7 in the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa, Sicily and Italy Campaigns and at Normandy during the “D Day” invasion. He was serving on LST Laysan Island in the South Pacific when the war ended. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He married Mary Jean Kirkpatrick on Aug. 26, 1951, at Central Park Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids.
He was employed by Iowa Illinois Gas and Electric Co. for 36 years, retiring in 1987.
He was a member of Cedar Rapids VFW Post 788, a 55-year member of First Presbyterian Church of Marion, a 26-year member of the Marion YMCA, and was very pleased to have been a member of an Honor Flight in September 2011.
He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, bird watching, the open water, family gatherings, good food and most of all, his family.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Jean; daughter, Susan; son, Tim (Eula); grandson, Matthew (Crystal); granddaughter, Lorie (Charlie); sister-in-law, Mary Jane Wilkey; nephews, nieces and many dear cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, grandparents, uncles, aunts, several close cousins and sisters- and brothers- in-law.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church of Marion and Camp Courageous of Iowa, Monticello.
The family wants to express their deep appreciation and thanks to the ICU nurses, especially Brian, Jim and Malou, and the techs of Mercy Medical Center for their exceptional care, kindness, and compassion.
Please leave an online condolence for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.
Published Dec. 29, 2013 in The Gazette
Service notice published Jan. 2, 2014 in The Gazette
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