Gordon D. “Butch” Wilkins, 71, of 1119 Scenic Bluff Road, Fulton, IL, died Sunday, February 23, 2014, at his home.
Butch was born July 20, 1942, in Morrison, IL, to James A. and Tena B. (Balk) Wilkins. He attended Ustick Township Grade School in rural Whiteside County, IL, and Fulton High School. He married Joyce A. Bush on June 7, 1963, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. In his younger years, Butch delivered feed for the Millview Feed Store in Morrison. He then began farming in the Ustick Township area. Butch was employed by Agri-Bunge in Fulton, retiring in 2008. Following his retirement, he worked at the Fairhaven Fruit Farm in Thomson, IL. He was a member of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau. He was a former 4-H leader of the Spring Valley Hayshakers. Butch enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, golfing, and fast-pitch softball.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce; two daughters, Jana (Darin L.) Johnson of Galt, IL, and Sara (Tony) Acri of Dallas, TX; one son, Thomas Wilkins of Fulton; seven grandchildren, Matthew Ward, Derek (Tara) Ward, Larissa Wilkins, Ashley Wilkins, Tyler Wilkins, Meno Wilkins and Joseph Acri; two step-grandchildren, Lindsay (Casey) Simmons and Jeremiah Johnson; one great-granddaughter, Lilah Ward; six step-great-grandchildren, Cheyenne Simmons, Brooksdon Simmons, Logon Johnson, Austin Shoup, Trace Shoup, Bryclynn Shoup; one sister, Carol (Allan) Zuidema of Argyle, WI; two brothers, Phillip J. (Joyce) Wilkins of Morrison, and Larry D. (Kaye) Wilkins of Fulton.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter-in-law, Lisa Ward; one sister and brother-in-law, Vivian and Harold Sikkema; his father and mother-in-law, Meno and Lois Bush.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 a.m., Monday March 3, 2014, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
OFFICIATING: Rev. Ralph Beidler,Pastor, Spring Valley Reformed Church, Fulton, IL
VISITATION: 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
INTERMENT: Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, IL
Memorials have been established to Spring Valley Reformed Church and Cancer Relay for Life.