Mark Wilkens

Mark Wilkens, 65, of Ogallala, died April 10, 2016, in his home. Mark was born February 9, 1951 in North Platte, NE. At the age of 9 months he was adopted by his parents Leonard and Phylis Wilkens of North Platte. He was raised south of North Platte and attended a one room country school. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1969. In 1969 Mark went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad as a machinist apprentice in the old Round House at North Platte. In the early 1970s Mark went to work for the U. S. Dept. of Transportation in Alaska for 2 years as a machinist on the Alaska Railroad in Anchorage and as an inspector of loads destined for the Trans Alaska Pipeline in the shipyard in Seward. In 1975 he returned to North Platte to again work for the Union Pacific Railroad retiring in 2011 as a locomotive engineer. Many times he shared how much he enjoyed the camaraderie of his co-workers of over 40 years. In 1970 he married Katherine Sprague and they had two daughters, Heather and Lisa. They were later divorced. In 1988 Mark moved from North Platte to Ogallala. He often said how blessed he was to have finally found a place he was meant to be. He truly loved the area, the community and its residents. Mark married Shirley Dillon on December 15, 1995 in Cherokee, Oklahoma and they resided in Ogallala. Mark was a life- long hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed many trips to Canada to the fly in fishing camp he was a partner in for over 25 years. He enjoyed his many trips to the Rockies hunting elk. He also made 10 trips to Canada hunting moose with close friends from Canada. However there was a special place in his heart for waterfowl and pheasant hunting and he so loved his American Water Spaniels and his loyal and constant companion Snoopy his Brittany Spaniel. He was an avid dog trainer with his Water Spaniel Gunner Dog, achieving many acknowledged accomplished hunting events and National Specialty awards. Along with Snoopy and his wife Shirley they enjoyed annual trips to North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas in pursuit of pheasants. He enjoyed many, many trips arrowhead hunting with Shirley and his dogs. Mark was an extreme collector, "not a hoarder"! of what he like to call "fine vintage junk". Many of his favorite times were spent on the beaches of Lake McConaughy camping and boating with his daughters, Heather and Lisa, his step-daughter, Kim, his grandchildren and his wife Shirley. Camp Chaos!! Mark was a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America and a Life Member of the National Rifle Association. He was also a member of Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, National Turkey Federation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation as well as a life member of the North American Hunting Club. Mark and Shirley in recent years enjoyed spending winters at their acreage in Bush, Arkansas near Beaver Lake where he spent many hours building bird houses and feeders to enjoy the many species of birds that wintered on their property. Mark was a member of New Hope Church in Ogallala and he had a strong and steadfast trust, belief and faith in the amazing grace and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus Christ who he accepted as his Savior. This relationship became the focal and most reassuring part of his life. In 2010 Mark was reunited with his biological mother and half- brothers and sisters. This led to many happy times learning about each-others lives. Preceding him in death were his parents and his grandparents. Mark is survived by his wife Shirley, a sister Marcine (Melvin) Everhart of North Platte. Two daughters, Heather (Larry) Crosier, Lisa (Ron) Girard all of North Platte and a step-daughter, Kim (Tibb) Scheer of Wichita, Ks. He is also survived by his biological mother, Leigh Smith of Owosso, MI, half-sisters, Lesleigh (Jim) Farhat, East Lansing, MI, Kimberly (David) Smith-Cook, Traverse City, MI, half-brothers, Tom Smith, Traverse City, MI, Dan (Kay) Smith, Lansing, MI, Shawn Smith, Tampa, FL, and Michael (Marybeth) Smith, Midland, MI.; and 14 grandchildren: Savannah Donohoe, Tanner Donohoe, Sheldon (Chase) Prentice, Emily Elliott, Joshua Elliott, Morgan Girard, Abbey Girard, Isabella Girard, Evangelina Girard, Arielle Scheer, Jordan Scheer, Kayden Scheer, Rachelle (Alec) Taylor, and Trevor (Sami) Moore; and five great-grandchildren: Carter Donohoe, Haidyn Tessay, Trystan Tessay, Leland Taylor, and Camryn Moore. Visitation will be Thursday, April 14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. The Funeral Service will be Friday, April 15, at 2 p.m. in the Ogallala New Hope Worship Center with Rev. Eric Wait officiating. The Service will be live streamed from drauckerfuneralhome.com, for those unable to attend. Cremation will follow the Service. Burial of the Cremains will be on Saturday, April 16, at 11 a.m. in the Lemoyne Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Ogallala Women's Resource Center and the Perkins County Animal Shelter. Online condolences may be sent to webmaster@drauckerfh.com or by signing the Guest Book at www.drauckerfh.com. Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements. Charitable donations may be made to:Ogallala Women's Resource Center 1008 West 1st St., Suite 3, Ogallala NE 69153 Tel: 1-308-284-3700 Web: http://www.hopeinnebraska.com/contact Perkins County Animal Shelter 68 S. Central Ave., Grant NE Tel: 1-308-352-2630 Web: https://www.facebook.com/Perkins-County-Animal-Shelter-190024021013015/ Mark Wilkens Obituary Click to download / open

Service Information

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Visitation Thursday April 14, 2016 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Draucker Funeral Home 700 N. Spruce Street Ogallala, NE 69153 Gathering of Family and Friends Thursday April 14, 2016 4:00 PM Draucker Funeral Home 700 N. Spruce Street Ogallala, NE 69153 Funeral Service Friday April 15, 2016 2:00 PM New Hope Church 319 E. O Street Ogallala, NE 69153 Inurnment Saturday April 16, 2016 11:00 AM Lemoyne Cemetery Hwy 92 Lemoyne, NE 69146