Wilfred E. Danekas Jr., 80, of Hinckley, Ill., passed away on Thursday, June 23, 2011, at his home. He was born on Oct. 6, 1930, in Rochelle, the son of Wilfred and Laura (Frakes) Danekas.
Wilfred was united in marriage on July 27, 1952, to the former Beverly Thomas at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hinckley, and they spent the next 58 happy years of their lives together. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hinckley. Mr. Danekas was a longtime farmer and was a member of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. He was also, for 30 years, a school bus driver in the Hinckley-Big Rock School District. Wilfred was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle who will be missed by his family and many friends.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly Danekas of Hinckley; his children, Sharon (David) Coleman of Sycamore, William (Janet) Danekas of Hinckley and Ronald Danekas of DeKalb; his granddaughters, Kimberly (Jay) Wilkerson of Sycamore, Kelly (Nicholas) Duffy of Yorkville and Jennifer (fiancee Jason Simon) Danekas of Milwaukee, Wis.; his two great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Cole Wilkerson; his brothers, Richard (Doris) Danekas of Chana, and Robert (Delores) Danekas of Rochelle; his stepsisters, Lois Fitzgerald of Appleton, Wis., and Debbie (Ken) Walker of Harrisburg; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilfred and Laura Danekas; his stepfather, Gene VanWinkle; and several siblings.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 27, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 12760 Lee Road, Hinckley, IL, with Pastor Donald Balgeman officiating. Interment will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Hinckley.
Friends can visit from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at Nash-Nelson Memorial Chapel, 141 N. Maple St., Hinckley, IL. Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Homes & Crematory, www.NelsonFuneralHomes.com, or 815-286-3247. Published in Daily Chronicle from June 25 to June 28, 2011