Submitted by: Dan Rich

Joseph Wilkeson

Jan. 19, 1917 - Jan. 10, 1999

South Bend Tribune 1/11/1999

Joseph Wilkeson, 81, residing on Mayflower Road, South Bend, Ind., passed away of natural causes at 4:40 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10, at the Miller's Merry Manor in Garrett, Ind. Mr. Wilkeson retired in 1982 after 45 years with the Electro Voice Corporation in Buchanan, Mich., as supervisor of the machine and tool shop. Joe was born on Jan. 19, 1917, in Freeland, Pa., and had been a lifelong resident of South Bend.

He married on Aug. 16, 1941, in South Bend, to Virginia Pritzel, who preceded him in death on Oct. 11, 1981. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Theresa Burklow and Bertha Ferguson. He is survived by a sister, Helen M. Kesler of South Bend, several nieces and nephews, as well as by several great-nieces and nephews.

A World War II Army veteran, serving with the Eleventh Armored Division, Joe was honorably discharged on June 11, 1946. He was also a member of American Legion Post 777 in Indianapolis.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Palmer Funeral Home, 2528 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend. Rev. Ed Erskin will officiate. Military services and entombment will follow in Riverview Cemetery, South Bend. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and one hour prior to services at the Palmer Funeral Home, South Bend. Contributions in memory of Joseph Wilkeson may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Cancer Society.