Marion and Glorianne made their home in Decorah. After their marriage Marion continued driving bus for Waterloo Stages. In 1953 he went into a partnership and did construction work. The following year he returned to bus driving for what then was Scenic Hawkeye Stages. In 1964 he began working for Luther College as a maintenance man in the Field House and at the library. He continued to work part-time as a driver for Hawkeye Stages. Glorianne returned to nursing in Nov of 1964 when she started work at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home. In Jul 1976 Marion underwent an operation to remove a tumor from the pituitary gland. After extensive treatment he returned to part-time work at the college but his health continued to decline over several years. He was unable to work for some years and entered Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Nov of 1987. He died there unexpectedly of heart failure on 24 Jun 1993. Burial was at the Springwater cemetery in Canoe Twp. Marion drove a bus, full or part-time, for 26 years making scheduled runs between Rochester and Waterloo and also drove many charter buses. Charter trips took him to nearly every state in the United States. Glorianne retired from her nursing duties at Aase Haugen in Oct of 1990 but she continues to work part-time caring for individuals in their homes.

Wilkens, William and Esther (Nordheim)

(William D. Wilkens)

William “Bill” Wilkens was born 17 Feb 1906 in Blue Hill, Webster Co., NE to John H. and Anna Marie "Mary” (Krueger) Wilkens. John was born 12 Mar 1862 at Bland, Gasconade Co., MO and Anna Marie was born 15 Dec 1866 at Osage Co., MO. John and Anna were married 6 Jan 1890 at Feuersville, Osage Co., MO. Bill’s 13 brothers and sisters were: Anna, Sophia Alvina, Carl Edward, Ella, Henry Herman, Emma Wilhelmina “Minnie”, Sophia Louise, Charles Benhardt, Gesine "Zina" Margaretha, Louise Matilda, Evelyn Francis, Dora Elizabeth and Matilda Emma. Bill’s grandfather Heinrich Herman Wilkens emigrated from Thedinghausen, Germany in May 1857 via the port of New Orleans and settled in Third Creek Twp., Gasconade Co., MO.

Esther (Nordheim) and William H. (Bill) Wilkens on their Wedding Day,
August 21, 1934 Pleasant township, Winneshiek Co.

Bill married Esther Clarene Nordheim who was born 15 Nov 1909 at Decorah, Winneshiek Co. to Edwin and Clara Helena (Hover) Nordheim. Edwin was born 18 Sep 1875 and Clara was born 19 Jun 1872, both in Winneshiek Co. Edwin and Clara were married 14 Sep 1898 at Locust in Pleasant Twp. Esther’s brothers and sisters were: Victor Erwin, Beatrice “Betty" Meredith, Wallace Mondell and Gladys Lucille.

Bill and Esther were married 21 Aug 1934 in Decorah. They had 4 children: Marlys Arlene, Wilbur Eugene, William David and Mary Ellen, all born in Decorah. Marlvs attended school in Pleasant Twp., Decorah High School and Luther College and was married to Robert Edward Lien on 2 Jun 1957 at Decorah Lutheran Church. Their children are: Debra Marie (deceased), Gary Allen, Scott Robert and Kristen David. Marlys now operates the “Once Upon a Time” children’s book store in Decorah. Wilbur attended school in Pleasant Twp., Decorah High School and Iowa State University. He married Virginia Marie Rohm on 10 Jul 1960 at First Lutheran church in Decorah. Their children are: Lonnie Eugene (died in infancy), Tamara Linn, and Terena Marie. Wilbur now manages the Big Bear farm supply store in St. Cloud, MN. William D, “Bill" attended school in Pleasant Twp., Decorah High School and Iowa State University. He married Phyllis Marie Port on 31 May 1969 at the Martelle Methodist Church in Martelle, Jones Co., IA. Their children are Jonathan William and Michael David. Bill is now chief engineer for Anixter, an electrical wire and cable distributor in Skokie, IL. Mary attended school in Pleasant Twp., Decorah High School and Luther College and married Jon Jensen on 31 May 1970 at Decorah Lutheran Church. They have no children. Mary is a school teacher in Idaho Falls, ID.

Bill and Esther were active members of Decorah Lutheran Church. Bill served as president of the Winneshiek Co. Farm Bureau Service Company. They farmed in Pleasant Twp., 2 miles west of Sattre, from the time they were married until retirement in 1975. Bill worked as a “cow tester” and Esther taught school before they were married. In their later years Bill was a member of the Rotary Club and Bill and Esther delivered Meals on Wheels to shut-ins. Bill died 2 Feb 1989 and Esther died 18 Mar 1995 at Decorah. They are buried at the Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah.

Bill often joked about his short physical stature by saying that he was the “runt of the family." He was proud of his registered Holstein dairy cattle herd and enjoyed entering the Iowa Master Corn Grower contest. In 1963 he won first place in the Winneshiek Co. contest with a yield of 136 bushels per acre. Esther was known for her concern for others. She also worried a lot. Once when she left groceries in the car while attending church on Sunday morning she worried aloud “I hope the eggs don’t freeze” and at the same time worried “I hope the ice cream doesn’t melt!" On another occasion her concern for the children prompted her to warn them “You can go swimming—but don’t go near the water!”