Harold Gene Wilken, 78, died Thursday April 4, 2024, at The University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. He was born July 2, 1945, in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Elmer Harold and Margaret Eunice (Whitaker) Wilken.
Harold attended Garden City schools and graduated from Garden City High School in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1964, attending recruit basic training at MCRD San Diego, California. Harold was stationed at Camp Pendleton California, Da Nang Vietnam, Camp Lejeune North Carolina, and was honorably discharged in 1967.
Harold earned a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University in 1972. He was co-founder of Wilmar Farms in Lakin, Kansas. They farmed alfalfa and then constructed a dairy in 1997. After retiring in 2005, Harold found his passion with woodworking and was a true artist with an astonishing attention to detail. He loved spending time with his family and friends, traveling, and playing a good hand of poker.
On October 12, 1968, he married Nancy Jo Stoner in Garden City and started a family. Harold is survived by his wife Nancy, son and daughter-in-law Brad and Lori Wilken of Seattle, Washington, son and daughter-in-law Bryan and Kimberly Wilken of Bend, Oregon. Additional survivors include sister and brother-in-law Carol and Lee Gross, sister Gayle Gomez, sister and brother-in-law Sheryle and Thomas Pollan, brother and sister-in-law William and Mary Wilken, his two grandchildren Harper Wilken and Maxwell Wilken, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City with Rev. Jim Akins officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City, with military graveside rites conducted by the United States Marine Corp Honor Guard and the Southwest Kansas Area Veterans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials given to Wounded Warriors, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, or the Finney County Humane Society, all in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be given at garnandfuneralhomes.com.