Bob Wilkie, 96, of rural Cherokee passed away on Thursday morning, Dec. 11, 2025, at his home.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 16, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cherokee. Burial was held in Cedar Township Cemetery at rural Larrabee with military rites by L.A. Wescott Post #2253 V.F.W. and the Cherokee American Legion. Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee assisted the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the family as they plan to assist a veteran's family this holiday season.
Bob was born on March 24, 1929, to Alfred and Annie (Grayson) Wilkie at Cherokee. He attended Larrabee School, graduating in 1946. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from 1951 to 1954.
He was united in marriage to Donna Gill on June 5, 1955, at Larrabee Methodist Church.
Bob worked as a farmer until 1981 and then he started trucking for Wilkie Trucking until his retirement in 2017.
He was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist in Cherokee.
Bob served on Larrabee Farmers Coop Board, CML Telephone Board and was one of the founding fathers of the Cherokee Rural Water System. He was a member of the Cherokee Country Club. Bob and Donna belonged to three card clubs and dance clubs. He was an avid sports fan and loved watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, St. Louis Cardinals and the Cherokee Braves. He cherished any time spent with family, especially all his grand and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parent; wife Donna; sons, Dennis in infancy and Kent; and brothers: Clarence, Ross, George and Frank.
Bob will be lovingly remembered by his children, Denise and Jeff Clements of Spirit Lake; and Kevin and Karla Wilkie of Cherokee; six grandchildren: Nicole (Dillon) Miner, Jill (Walker) Woods, Jaden (Jeff) Arends, Hillary Wilkie, Eric Wilkie and Rachel Bugh; and four great-grandchildren: Jamesin Meyers, Nash and Lennox Miner and Georgie Woods.
