Warren W. Bilke

Warren W. Bilke, 93, of Beaver Dam passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at the Charleston House Memory Care in Beaver Dam surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services for Mr. Bilke will be held on Friday, April 15, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam with the Rev. Paul Stratman officiating. A visitation will be held prior from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. also at the church. Inurnment will be at Highland Memory Gardens in the township of Trenton at a later date. Warren was born on March 12, 1923 the son of Herman and Ella (Bobholz) Bilke in Friesland. On July 8, 1944, he was united in marriage to Maxine C. Davis in Beaver Dam. Warren was a lifelong dairy farmer in the town of Calamus. He had also been a caretaker of St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery. He was a member of St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the SnoKats Snowmobile Club. Warren and Maxine enjoyed traveling in their motor home and enjoyed weekends with their family camping, especially Camp Farmyard. They also enjoyed going for Sunday drives and wintering in Texas. Warren liked to go hunting and fishing and his true pastime was gardening. Warren is survived by his seven children: Katie (fiancé Steve Diederich) Freber, Warren “Wheaties” R. (Kay) Bilke, Darlene (Peter) Abler all of Beaver Dam, David (Sharon Geist) Bilke of Sayner, Cindy (Jim Stanek) Bilke, Kelly (Linda) Bilke and Roxanne (David) Hess all of Beaver Dam; 13 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and two step grandchildren; three sisters-in-law: Jean Disrude, Shirley (Milford) Oestrich and Sally Duke. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Maxine, four brothers: Donald, Dennis, Raymond and Bernie (Donna), daughter-in-law Sherri Bilke, grandson Michael Quinn, granddaughter Nicky Abler and great grandson Riley Bilke. Memorial donations may be directed to St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam. The Bilke family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff of Charleston House Memory Care and CareWisconsin, also special thanks to Generations Hospice for the wonderful and compassionate care of our father. Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home, Beaver Dam is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.koepsellfh.com.