Obituary of Leonard Paul Wilke

It is with sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of their father Leonard (Len) Paul Wilke in the early hours of April 15, 2019 at the Veterans Unit, Wascana Rehab Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan. Len was born on the farm north of Yellow Grass, SK on September 16, 1921; the eldest son of Richard and Olga (Hermann) Wilke. He grew up on a farm near Yellow Grass and attended Luther College in Regina.  In the spring of 1941 Len enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) where he earned his wings as a pilot and began to train navigators in Portage La Prairie, MB. It was during this time that Len met our mother, Elsie Vennard and they were married on July 8, 1944 on her parent’s farm near Treherne, MB.   

Shortly thereafter Len and Elsie were transferred to Truro, NS where he learned to fly the Mosquito aircraft. In March 1945 he was transferred by the RCAF to England where he was stationed and awaiting deployment to the continent.  With the war ending in May1945, Len returned home in January 1946. He started farming in the Sherwood District just south of Regina where they raised their five children. In 1955, Len joined the 10^th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. He retired from the Militia in 1969 as the Commanding Officer of the Regiment with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During Len’s years of service in the Canadian Military he received a Scroll of Commission from King George VI (Officer in the RCAF), and two Scrolls of Commission from Queen Elizabeth II, (Artillery Officer and Artillery Officer Field Rank). He also received a Canadian Defence Medal for 13 years of service.  

In 1965, the family moved to Regina residing in the Hillsdale community. Len continued to farm until 1970 when his son John took over the family farm. Following farming he sold real estate and worked for ten years with the Saskatchewan Liquor Board. In 2004 Len and Elsie moved to Queen Victoria Estates where they enjoyed assisted living.  Due to Elsie’s failing health, in 2010 they moved to William Albert House in Emerald Park. There Len participated in many activities including gardening, bingo, sing-a-longs, worship services, and barbequing. In December of 2016, Len moved to the Veterans Unit at Wascana Rehab Centre, where he continued to enjoy being part of the social activities including joining the hand bell choir; playing bridge, cribbage and bingo.

Len was an ardent fisherman and hunter. He and Elsie enjoyed many years camping at their trailer in Glen Harbour and many years at their cottage in Colesdale. He was an avid sports fan and thoroughly enjoyed watching curling, baseball, hockey and football.  He and Elsie also enjoyed travelling abroad particularly going to Australia and New Zealand and cruising the Caribbean. Len spent many hours collecting, tinkering and fixing things and was always interested in making something useful from things that other people had discarded.         

Len was predeceased by his parents, his wife Elsie; sisters and brothers-in-law Esther  and Edward Altwasser, Margaret and Gordon Thompson, Delila and Walter Weind, Edward Meyer, and Edward Niebergall; brother and sisters-in-law Herbert and Ruth Wilke and Florence Wilke; and Elsie’s brothers and sister-in-law Norman (Beatrice Henry), Raymond and Donald Vennard.

He is survived by his five children; daughter Linda (Darol) Owens and their family Barb (Shayne) Hogeboom, Kaylee and Abby; Robert (Angela)  and his daughter Taylor Kell (Tyler Meshke); Roger (Kenda) , Kayce and Marley; son John (Linda) and their family Ryan and his son Issac; Chelsea and her son Jaeden Gessner; son Wendell and his son Raymond Desjarlais-Kish and Raymond’s daughter Layla; son Reginald (Elaine) and their family Christopher (Ashley), Sawyer and Collins; Cory; Chantelle (Michael) O’Donnell, Caroline and Eamon; and daughter Sheila (Darwin) Roske and their family Jonathan (Emelie Vogt) and their son Harrison; Alicia (Craig McFetridge) and Travis (Jessica Baraskewich); two sisters Gladys Meyer and Phyllis Niebergall; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends including close friends Rollie and Debbie Claude and family.   

A Service to Celebrate Len’s life will be held at Wesley United Church, 3913 Hillsdale Street, Regina, SK on Wednesday May 1, 2019 at 2:00 pm. Interment to follow at a later date in Yellow Grass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wesley United Church Memorial Fund or the Yellow Grass Cemetery Fund (PO Box 270 Yellow Grass, SK S0G 5J0).

The family is extremely thankful to all those who cared for Len at William Albert House and most recently the loving and caring staff of the Veterans Unit at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre.

 To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com

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