Collette T. Wilkens

Collette Theresa. Wilkens, 61 year old resident of Swanville, MN left us on Friday, December 17, 2010 at the St. Cloud Hospital, after a courageous battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Swanville with Father Ronald Dockendorf officiating. Burial will be at St. John’s Parish Cemetery in Swanville. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 PM on Monday at St. John’s Catholic Church and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church. Parish Prayers will be at 7 PM on Monday at the church. Collette was born March 1, 1949 to Donald Gessell and Noreen Peschl in Long Prairie MN. She attended and graduated from Swanville High School. She was united in marriage to Bernard Wilkens on May 3, 1968 in Sisseton SD. They resided in Swanville MN where they raised their family. Although she had worked out of her home, Collette prided herself on being "grandma" and caring for the kids in her home, some of them not related by blood. She belongs to St. John the Baptist Parish of Swanville, Swanville Community Scholarship Inc., Dollars for Scholars, City of Swanville Planning and Zoning and past Swanville School Board Director. She also worked to raise cancer research funds through Relay for Life and private fund raising. She enjoyed being involved in any family activity especially camping with the grandchildren. Collette is survived by her husband, Bernard of Swanville; daughters, Michelle (Fred) Peterson of Swanville, Stephenie (Jim) Och of Swanville, Stacy (Todd) Jackson of Swanville; son, Shayne (Jill Cuchna) Wilkens of Litchfield; grandchildren: Nicholas, Michela and Ashley Peterson; Ethan, Quintyn and Courntey Och; Peyton, Avery and Reese Jackson; mother, Noreen Gessell, and siblings, Sandy (Glenn) Klimmek, Lynn (Bruce) Johnson, Lyle (Jane) Gessell, Kathy (John) Peterson, Debbie Gammon, Theresa (Steve) Peterson and Julie (Rick) Gutormson; 11 nieces and 17 nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Donny Gessell; grandparents, Joseph and Elizabeth Gessell, John and Julia Peschl. Honorary Pallbearers will be Nick, Michela, Ashley, Ethan. Peyton, Quintyn, Avery, Courthey and Reese. Active Pallbearers will be Sandy Klimmek, Lynn Johnson, Lyle Gessell, Kathy Peterson, Debbie Gammon, Theresa Peterson and Julie Gutormson. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers.

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Collette T. Wilkens

March 1, 1949 - December 17, 2010