Joanne Wilken

Joanne Wilken, 87, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 20, 2026, at Terrace Glen Village. Private family services and inurnment will be held at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion at a later date. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family.

Joanne was born on August 3, 1938, in Olin, Iowa, the daughter of Waldo and Della (Lasserre) Hart. She was a graduate of Cedar Rapids Wilson High School and later earned her accounting degree from Coe College. On November 4, 1961, Joanne was united in marriage to Dale Wayne Wilken, who died on December 2, 2023. She used her degree to work for Iowa Manufacturing, Collins Radio, Smulekoff’s, and LinkBelt. After retirement, she used her accounting skills to give back to the community at the AARP Free Tax Service for 12 years. Joanne loved planning and taking trips around the world with her grandchildren. She rarely missed a Caitlyn Clark basketball game or a Patrick Mahomes football game. Joanne will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Joanne is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughter, Joyce (Craig) Brophy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; son, Richard “Dick” Wilken of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Oscar (Samantha) Brophy of Independence, Iowa, Nathan Wilken of Houston, Jacklyn (Tyler) Hendrickson of Excelsior, Minnesota, Calvin (Cecily Linsenmeyer) Brophy of Denver, Colorado, Lindsay (Byron) Lynn of Galveston, Texas, and Payton Brophy (Fiancé, James Johnson) of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Saige, Robert, Julius, Kennedy, and Emerson; two brothers, Walter Kraus Jr. of Cedar Rapids; and Harry (Evelyn) Hart of Milan, Illinois; and sister-in-law, Toni Wilken of Anamosa, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dale, two sisters, Betty Lou Coquillette, and Imogene Johnson, and brother, Irvin Hart.

The family would like to thank her long time caregivers, Marcy Goebel and Avery Arnold for all the love and support shown to Joanne while she was under their care.