Cleo H. Wilkins, 85

Cleo H. Wilkins, 85, died July 6, 2006, at her home in Cozad as a result of lung cancer.

Services were Monday, July 10, at the First United Methodist Church in Cozad. Burial was in the Cozad Cemetery.

Cleo H. (Paulsen) Wilkins was born July 1, 1921, near Blair to Alfred and Rena (Peterson) Paulsen. She graduated from Blair High School in 1938.

On July 12, 1941, she married Norman W. Wilkins, Sr. at Rockport, Mo. The couple made their home in Blair where they owned and operated a grocery store and clothing store. In 1952, they moved to Cozad where she was employed at Menke Clothing Store and Cozad Fashions.

She enjoyed playing golf and had played just six weeks before her death. She also enjoyed tennis, snow skiing, traveling, Nebraska football and all sports.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and a church circle; O.E.S., Ladies Golf Association and the Nebraska Women’s Amateur Golf Association.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Becky Wilkins of Kearney; a daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Jim Hatcher of Cozad; eight grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Dody Paulsen of Cozad; and two sister-in-laws, Florence Metzger of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Bonnie Paulsen of Gothenburg.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2002; a son, Norman W. “Bill” Wilkins, Jr.; great-grandson, Tyler Jacob Hopper, and three brothers, Ivan “Ike”, Gene and Lyle Paulsen.

A memorial has been established in her memory. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com