Leslie Chase. Wilkening, 88, died May 8, 2008 at Lantern Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Coralville, Iowa. He was born April 23, 1920 to Henry “Hank” William and Margaret “Bessie” Elizabeth Chase Wilkening near Hayesville, Iowa. He graduated from Sigourney High School in 1938 and attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa. On September 21, 1940 he married Bernice Marie Kerber at St. Mary Catholic Church by Father Hauser. He served in the United States Army, in the South Pacific Theater, during World War II where he received a Purple Heart. He worked as an independent oil jobber for Shell and Apco, later he drove truck for Kingsbury Homes.
  He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Sigourney V. F. W., Disabled American Veterans and a Volunteer Fireman for over 30 years. Les was one of the founding fathers of Sigourney Little League Baseball in the early 1950’s.
  He was preceded in death by his parents, great- grand son Chase Wilkening, two sisters Frances Leighton, and Hanky Greene Vittetoe,
  He is survived by his wife Bernice, children Ron of Grand Fork, North Dakota, Diane and husband Sam Flanegan of Council Bluff, Rob of Waukee, David of Solon, seven grandchildren, twelve great - grandchildren, one brother John Wilkening of Sigourney, two sisters Bess Jean Hollingsworth of North English and Belva Hollingsworth of Sigourney.