Obit: Mikkelsen, Brenda Kathlene (1967 - 2014)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Mikkelsen, Worstell, Wilke, Willingham, Drinka, Mohr, Poeschel, Ator, Jasmer, Durbin, Voldberg

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 8/13/2014

Mikkelsen, Brenda Kathlene (11 November 1967 - 9 August 2014)

Brenda K. Mikkelsen, 46, of Glen Flora passed away Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, at Rusk County Memorial Hospital in Ladysmith, after an approximately two-year illness. Brenda Kathlene Wilke was born Nov. 11, 1967, in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Virgil A. and Ellen L. (Worstell) Wilke. As a young girl, Brenda moved with her family to Chili, where she was raised and attended school in Granton. After high school, Brenda enrolled in Chippewa Valley Technical College and because a certified nursing assistant. She worked for many years prior to her disability at the Clark County Care Center in Owen. It was while working that she stared to notice issues with her body and started to develop severe pains in her neck, feet and back regions. She became disabled and had numerous medical issues related to the effects of the pain.

Brenda met her life partner through an online dating site and had been dating for nearly a year when they became engaged Oct. 8, 2006. They were united in marriage July 14, 2007, at the Glen Flora Community Pavilion by Reverend Dave Willingham. They purchased a home approximately six blocks from where they were united as husband and wife and resided there until her passing.

Brenda was disabled and spent several hours conversing on the Internet, playing arcade and karaoke games, watching TV comedy shows and horror movies and loving her pet dogs. She was a loving and supporting spouse to her husband in times of need. Brenda taught us to open our eyes and try to live our lives to what it is like being disabled with all of its obstacles and limitations.

Brenda is survived by her husband of seven years, Lucas Mikkelsen of Glen Flora; two sons, Alexander Drinka of Chili and Tyler Mohr (Connie Poeschel) of Neillsville; a daughter, Ashley Mohr of Glen Flora; her parents, Virgil and Ellen Wilke of Chili; three brothers, Jim (Roxanne) Wilke, Arlyn Wilke and Gary (Debbie) Wilke, all of Marshfield; one sister, Marlea (Tom) Ator of loon Lake, WA; a brother-in-law, Bernard Mikkelsen and a sister-in-law, Diane Mikkelsen, both of Glen Flora; and several pet doggies.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Brian Wilke; her sister, Barbara Jasmer; and her grandparents, Harley and Thelma Worstell, Otto Wilke, Nina (Wilke) Durbin and Howard Durbin.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, at the Thorp Funeral Home in Thorp with Deacon Craig Voldberg officiating. Visitation will be held Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Withee.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiegh.com.  Cuddie Funeral Home of Greenwood is assisting the family with arrangements.