Mildred Wikle

M ildred Ann Wikle, 90, Sabetha, Kansas died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at Sabetha Community Hospital.

She was born Jan. 3, 1925 in Logan County, W.V., the daughter of Jane (Belcher) and JT Mays. On Jan. 10, 1951 she married Hobart C. Wikle. He preceded her in death on June 11, 2002.

Survivors include four daughters, Sallie Ann Hibbs and husband, Claude of Chapman, Kansas, Peggy Sue Miller and husband, Joe of Topeka, Kansas, Patricia Lynn Cheffey and husband, Mark of Palmyra, Missouri and Lori Kaye Aberle and husband, Jim of Topeka; six grandchildren, Austin Hibbs, Jason Hibbs, Chris Mayo, Maggie Miller, and Kalli and Ben Cheffey; and eight great-grandchildren, Malia, Keira, Vershawn, Sarah, Norie, Tyler, Evan and Ayden, and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; and one daughter, Sharon Jane, on May 4, 2004.

Mrs. Wikle grew up in Peach Creek, W.V. and graduated from Logan High School.

Prior to her marriage, she worked as a telephone operator for the Chesapeake and Ohio Telephone Company in Logan then transferred to Lewisburg, W.V. as a supervisor. After moving to Sabetha after her marriage, she was a homemaker and mother to her five daughters. Later, she also worked part-time in the shutter factory in Hiawatha, Kansas and at the Hiawatha Daily World as an inserter for the St. Joseph Stockyard Journal.

Mrs. Wikle was raised a Baptist, but joined the Methodist Church after moving to Sabetha, where she had been a member of the United Methodist Women and had been active with the “kitchen ladies,” helping prepare many dinners. She was also a member of the Fairview American Legion Auxiliary and served as president of that group.

Mrs. Wikle enjoyed gardening, reading and playing cards and especially loved entertaining and planning family reunions.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Sabetha with Rev. Kelly Sipes will officiate. Burial will be in the Sabetha Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church.  Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, Terry C. Johnson Cancer Fund or to charity of the donor’s choice sent in care of Popkess Mortuary, 823 Virginia Sabetha, Kansas  66534.

Pallbearers will be Claude Hibbs, Jim Aberle, Mark Cheffey, Joe Miller, Austin Hibbs and Chris Mayo. Honorary bearers will be her other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Family invites friends to join them for the meal at the church at 11:30 a.m.