Obituary-Norfolk Daily News-October 15, 1991

ANNA ELIZABETH WEEDER WILKINSON

Funeral services for Elizabeth (Betty) WILKINSON, 79, of Oakdale, were held on Monday, October 14, 1991, at the Oakdale United Methodist Church. Rev. Gary MAIN officiated. Interment was in the Oakdale Cemetery in Oakdale and her grandchildren served as pallbearers. Mrs WILKINSON died at the Clarkson Hospital in Omaha on October 10, 1991. The daughter of Rudolph and Mary Etta (MERCHANT) WEEDER, she was born west of Elgin on October 31, 1911. She attended rural school at Elgin and moved with her parents to Colorado. She returned to Park Center, west of Elgin at the age of 16 to live with the MERCHANTs. On April 16, 1931, she was married to Harry Willard WILKINSON at Hoxie, Kansas. They lived in the Elgin area before moving to Oakdale in 1943. In 1954 they moved to Vermillion, South Dakota There she was employed by Sears. In 1971, her husband died and she moved back to Oakdale. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Oakdale and its United Methodist Women, of which she was a past president She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge 28 in Vermillion and was past Noble Grand, the Vermillion VFW Auxiliary, and former member of the Oakdale Kensington Club. Survivors include four sons, Robert of Oakdale, Jack of Astoria, Oregon, Mark of Casper, Wyoming, and Tom of Story, Wyoming, five daughters, Mrs Raymond (Kay) CROSIER of Oakdale, Mrs Ot (Betty) BUELTER of Arvada, Colorado, Mrs Eldon (Barbara) MARSH of Brunswick, Mrs (Harriet) SMITH of Hastings, and Mrs Don (Cheri) WOOD of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, 23 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and four brothers.

Obituary - The Oakdale Sentinel, Thursday, September 9, 1943

DAVID MILLER WILKINSON

David Wilkinson, 70, died very suddenly at his home here Friday of a stroke. He had been down town the day before his death. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. H. G. Langley at the Gerald Stott home Sunday afternoon. Burial was made in the Oakdale Cemetery. David Miller WILKINSON was born in St. Clair Valley, south of Oakdale, Nebraska, on January 19, 1873. He was the son of Willard WILKINSON and Sarah WILKINSON. He passed away September 3, 1943 at his home in Oakdale after a short illness at the age of seventy years, seven months and fourteen days. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, two sisters and four brothers. He moved to Oakdale to a small farm in 1900 on which place he had since resided. He leaves to mourn his passing, his sister, May WILKINSON, with whom he lived, three brothers, Charles WILKINSON of Oregon City, Oregon, Tom WILKINSON of Fargo, North Dakota, and John WILKINSON of Oakdale, as well as a number of other relatives and friends.

Obituary - The Oakdale Sentinel, Thursday, February 17, 1944

ELLA MAY WILKINSON

Miss May Wilkinson, 68, was found dead in her home here Monday when her brother, John, called there. Indications were that her cloths caught on fire when she was attempting to light a fire. She was successful in putting out the blaze but not before she was badly burned. She was found on her bed. It is presumed she died Sunday. Miss Wilkinson lived alone on the outskirts of town. Ella May WILKINSON, daughter of Willard WILKINSON and Sarah COTTRELL, was born September 25, 1875, and passed away at her home in Oakdale on Sunday, February 13, 1944, at the age of sixty-eight years, four months and nineteen days. Her father and mother, six brothers and two sisters preceded her in death. She spent her early life on the farm in St. Clair Valley, moving to Oakdale in 1896 where she had since resided. She leaves to mourn her passing, two brothers, Tom WILKINSON of Fargo, ND., and John WILKINSON of Oakdale, and a number of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at the United Brethren church Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. O. E. Hall. Burial was made in the Oakdale Cemetery.

Obituary-Neligh News and Leader-August 6, 1970

JOHN MELVIN WILKINSON

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 4 at the Oakdale Methodist Church for John M WILKINSON of Oakdale with Alvin SCHWARTING, pastor of the Church of Christ officiating. Burial was in the Oakdale Cemetery with Donald VASEK, Bruce OFE, Jack WILKINSON, Stanley WILKINSON, Vance WILKINSON, and Ronald L WILKINSON serving as pallbearers. John WILKINSON, son of Mr and Mrs Willard W WILKINSON, was born October 5, 1879 at Oakdale and died July 31, 1970 at the Tilden Community Hospital. He spent his entire life in Antelope County where he was a farmer. He moved to Oakdale in 1947. Survivors include his widow, Hanna, six daughters, Millicent SCHULTZ of Pierce, Rose LODGE of Oakland, California, Mabel VASEK of Elkhorn, Doris ESAU of Petersburg, Jean GREGOR of Phoenix, Arizona and Shirley OFE of Oakdale, four sons, Lester of Oakdale, Harry of Vermillion, South Dakota, Irl and Max of Elgin, 39 grandchildren, 77 great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren.

Obituary-Norfolk Daily News-October 1973

Johannah Edith (RETZLAFF) WILKINSON

Funeral services for Mrs John (Johannah) Wilkinson, 92, of Oakdale will be conducted at 2 P.M. Friday in the Methodist Church here by the Rev James A Stillman. Music will be furnished by Mrs Alvin Schwarting and Alvin Peterson, accompanied by Mrs Peterson. Burial will be in the Oakdale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Stanley, Gary and Vance Wilkinson, Duane Esau, Bruce Ofe and James Vasek. The body will lie in state from 2 to 9 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Hoepfinger Funeral Home in Neligh. Born November 4, 1889 at West Point, she was the daughter of Mr and Mrs John Retzlaff. She died October 9, 1973 at her home in Oakdale. Mrs Wilkinson had been a resident of the Oakdale community the past 90 years. On September 19, 1901 she married John M Wilkinson at Oakdale. He died in 1970. They had lived on farms in the Oakdale and Elgin area until moving to town several years ago. Survivors include six daughters, Mrs Joe (Mable) Vasek of Yutan, Mrs Rose Lodge of Castro Valley, CA, Mrs Millicent Schultz of Pierce, Mrs Elmer (Doris) Esau of Petersburg, Mrs Martin (Jean) Gregor of Phoenix, AZ and Mrs Donald (Shirley) Ofe of Oakdale, two sons, Max of Elgin and Earl of Hastings, many grand children and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two sons, Lester and Harry.

Obituary-Neligh News and Leader-June 10, 1971

HARRY WILLARD WILKINSON

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. at Vermillion, South Dakota and at 3 p.m., Saturday, June 5 at the Oakdale Methodist Church for Harry WILKINSON, 65, of Vermillion, formerly of Oakdale. Burial was in the Oakdale Cemetery with grandchildren serving as pallbearers. Mr WILKINSON, who died unexpectedly Wednesday, June 2, 1971, at his home is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) of Vermillion; five daughters, Mrs Raymond (Kay) CROSIER of Oakdale, Mrs Otfried (Betty) BUELTER of Arvada, Colorado, Mrs Eldon (Barbara) MARSH of Brunswich, Mrs Don (Harriet) MARSH of Hastings, and Mrs Don (Cheryl) WOOD of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; four sons, Major Robert WILKINSON of Fort Knox, Kentucky, John of Sioux City, Iowa, Mark and Tom, both at home, his mother, Mrs John (Hannah) WILKINSON of Oakdale, six sisters, Mrs Shirley OFE of Oakdale, Mrs Mabel VASEK of Elkhorn, Mrs Millicent SCHULTZ of Pierce, Mrs Rose LODGE of Oakland, California, and Jean GREGOR of Arizona; three brothers, Lester of Oakdale, Irl and Max of Elgin, and 20 grandchildren.

Obituary-Neligh News and Leader-August 9, 1973

LESTER RICHARD WILKINSON

Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, August 3 at the United Methodist Church in Elgin for Lester R WILKINSON who died July 31, 1973 at the Tilden community hospital at the age of 69 years, 4 months and 30 days. The Rev Lester V. ANDERSON of Albion officiated at the service and burial was in the Oakdale Cemetery, with Lynn WILKINSON, Ronald L WILKINSON, Jack WILKINSON, Duane ESAU, Bruce OFE and James VASEK serving as pallbearers. Lester Richard WILKINSON, son of John and Hannah RETZLAFF WILKINSON was born March 1, 1904 at Oakdale. He grew to manhood in the Oakdale community was graduated from the Oakdale High School with the Class of 1922. On March 30, 1929 at Pierce, he was united in marriage with Miss Etta A CHRISTIANSEN. They farmed west of Elgin until 1950 when they moved to their farm southwest of Oakdale where he resided until his death. Survivors include his widow, Etta, one son, Stanley, of Tilden, mother, Mrs Hannah WILKINSON of Oakdale, six sisters, Mrs Millicent SCHULTZ of Pierce, Mrs Rose LODGE of Castro Valley, California, Mrs Joe (Mabel) VASEK of Yuban, Mrs Elmer (Doris) ESAU of Petersburg, Mrs Martin (Jean) GREGOR of Phoenix, Arizona, and Mrs Donald (Shirley) OFE of Oakdale, two brothers, Irl of Grand Island and Max of Elgin. He was preceded in death by his father and one brother, Harry.

The Oakdale Sentinel- April 14, 1916

Sarah Jane (COTTRELL) WILKINSON

Sarah Jane Cottrell was born in Madison County, Indiana, December 11, 1840 and died at her home in Oakdale, Nebraska, April 11, 1916 at the age of 75 years and four months. In 1856 she moved with her father’s family to Vinton, Iowa where she resided to the time of her marriage. On June 10, 1860, she was married to Willard Wood Wilkinson at Vinton, Iowa. To this union were born eleven children, all of whom are living at the present time, except Lenora, the second child who died in infancy. The living children are: Robert W of Hubbard, NE, Adelbert S and Thomas P of Wing, ND, Willard H of Pollach, ND, Charles R of Wilton, ND, Minnie, wife of James Rouse, David M, Ella May, John M and Clyde A of Oakdale, NE. In 1871 she came with her husband and family to Antelope County, Nebraska, settling on 160 acres of homestead land in St Clair Valley, Grant Township, where they lived until 1897 when they moved to a farm near Oakdale. In 1900 on account of declining years and feeble health, farming was giving up and the family moved to their home in Oakdale where they have since lived. The early and middle years of Mrs Wilkinson’s life were of a most exciting and strenuous kind only those mothers who have passed through similar experiences can realize what it means. In 1862, when they had only been married for 2 years and 2 months, her husband enlisted in the Union Army where he served his country until January 5, 1865 when he was discharged on account of wounds received in battle. When she came here with her family in 1871, Antelope County was the extreme western frontier of the settlements. Mrs Wilkinson’s home on the plains was 30 miles from the nearest post office and 60 miles from the nearest railroad station. She did her part well as wife, mother and neighbor. Her health had been broken for the last 10 years so much so that most of the time she has needed and has had constant care and attention. On Thursday afternoon she was laid to rest in the family plot in the Oakdale Cemetery amid the presence of a large number of sympathizing friends and neighbors.

The Neligh News-March 2, 1961

THOMAS PETER WILKINSON

Thomas P Wilkinson, 92, died at Fargo, North Dakota, Thursday morning after a long illness. Funeral services were Friday at Fargo. Mr Wilkinson was born in November 1868 at Vinton, Iowa. At three years of age he came to Oakdale with his parents, Mr and Mrs W. W. Wilkinson and he grew to manhood in the St Clair community. In the 1890's he moved to South Dakota and later homesteaded at Wing, North Dakota. He operated a store in Wing. He also lived at Fargo for many years.

Obituary-The Oakdale Sentinel-February 23, 1923

WILLARD WOOD WILKINSON

Willard Wood WILKINSON was born in Lake County, Indiana, July 25, 1939, and died at his home in Oakdale, Nebraska, February 22, 1923, aged 83 years, 6 months and 27 days. In early manhood he removed to Iowa and on June 10, 1860 was united in marriage to Sarah Jane Cottrell at Vinton. On August 8, 1862 he enlisted in Co. D, 28^th Iowa Infantry and served two years and eight months, being discharged because of wounds received at Sabine Crossroads, LA and Cedar Creek, Virginia. In the spring of 1871 he left Benton County, Iowa and May 23 of that year made homestead entry in Grant Township, Antelope County, Nebraska. To the new home his family came in September, following. Here they resided until 1897 when they removed to a farm near Oakdale. In 1900 because of failing health, the family moved to their home in Oakdale. Mrs WILKINSON died here on April 11, 1916. Mr WILKINSON was one of the pioneers and as such occupies a place in County history as one of the builders of a prosperous community. He was a good citizen and esteemed by a wide circle of friends. He had been in poor health for several years and though the end came as a shock to relatives and friends it was not wholly unexpected. Eight sons and two daughters survive. Interment was made in the Oakdale Cemetery.