Joe C. Wilkins, 73

Kennard native Joe C. Wilkins, 73, of Ennis, Mont., died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003, at his home.

Funeral services were Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Jeffers, Mont., with interment at the Madison Valley Cemetery in Ennis.

Joe Cecil Wilkins was born in Kennard to Grover C. and Fern Wilkins. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1946 and attended Midland College in Fremont.

At age 17, he eloped with the love of his life, Marilyn “Toby” Hall of Arlington. Together, they raised three daughters and shared 56 years of marriage.

Mr. Wilkins began his life’s work with the George A. Hormel Co. when he was 20 years old. He retired in 1990 after 41 years. He worked his way up from the kill line to serving as manager of the Vehicle/Travel Services in the corporate office in Austin, Minn.

He was an active member of the first Congregational Churches in Arlington, Fremont and Austin, and the Trinity Episcopal Church in Ennis.

He was instrumental in the startup of the ROAR organization in Austin, which served the mentally challenged adults in the area.

He was a Master Mason and a member of the Junior Chamber of Fremont. He was a member of the Madison Valley Rural Fire Department and active in the Ennis Senior Citizens and Meals on Wheels. He also served as the City Judge of Ennis for nine years.

His greatest joys were meeting and spending time with people and helping anyone who needed assistance. He enjoyed golf, attending “Big Red” football games, traveling, watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their sports and activities, doing stained glass and raising his beloved hollyhocks.

He is survived by his wife, Toby; daughters and sons-in-law, Terry and David Gates, Mary Jo Faaborg and Fred Missbuechler, and Jane and Jim Barta; 8 grandchildren and their spouses; four great-grandchildren; brothers, Gene C. Wilkins of Ennis, Bob Wilkins of Arlington, and sisters, Eva Pearson of Wahoo and Ruth Kruger of Elkhorn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Jamie and William G., and a grandson, Brad Gates.

Memorials are suggested to the Friends of the Library, Ennis Ambulance Services, Meals on Wheels, or the charity of the donor’s choice.