Herman Wilking

Visitation: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Thursday, December 27, 2007 at the Tracy Lutheran Church Service: 11:00 AM Friday, December 28, 2007 at Tracy Lutheran Church Herman Edward Wilking was born December 27, 1931 to Edmund C. and Bertha M. (Hatton) Wilking on his grandparents farm in Custer Township, Lyon County, MN. He was baptized in the Garvin Congregational Church on July 24, 1937. He attended Garvin Public School and later Tracy High School, graduating in 1950. In 1952 Herman joined the Tracy Lutheran Church and was confirmed that fall. As a young man he worked on many area farms and after graduation, for Hemmingson’s Auto Sales. In January of 1951 Herman entered the U. S. Navy, where he served during the Korean War on the aircraft carrier, the US Kula Gulf, until his discharge in September of 1953, when he returned to the Tracy and Garvin area and went to work for the Garvin elevator for 18 years. On June 17, 1953 Herman married Goldie Sorbel at the Tracy Lutheran Church and they made their home in Garvin, MN and raised four sons, Donald, David, Darrell and Duane. After his years with the Garvin Elevator, Herman went to work for the Tracy Elevator for the next 17 years. In 1990 they moved to Tracy. He also was employed by Schott Corporation in Marshall, MN and as a maintenance man at the Tracy Nursing Home. He retired in October of 1998. His hobbies included raising horses, horse back riding with his boys, dancing, traveling, camping and in his later years golfing, horse shoe league and playing pool at the Senior Center in Tracy. He enjoyed watching his sons and grandchildren participate in their school activities and sports and took great pride in his family, and having his home and yard look nice. For many years Herman was an active member of the Garvin American Legion, serving as Adjutant and as a Garvin City Council member. He served as fire chief on the Garvin Fire Department and also as a Garvin Police Officer. He was a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church and served as a deacon and as an usher. Herman also volunteered at the Tracy Area Food Shelf and Meals on Wheels. He also was a past member of the Tracy Lions Club. In early November Herman was diagnosed with cancer and on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 he died at his home surrounded by his loving family at the age of 75. Herman is survived by his wife, Goldie of Tracy, MN; four sons, Donald (Lanae) of Lakefield, MN, David (Kathy) of Tracy, MN, Darrell (Karen) of Sioux Falls, SD and Duane (Carol) of Ivanhoe, MN; eleven grandchildren, Dillon (Dee Dee), Dru (Kaycee), Dustin (Abby), Nicole (Al) Fredrickson, Darin (Emily), Rachel, Shenandoah (fiancé, Thomas Massman), Shelby, Chelsie, Alisha and Janelle; one sister, Wilma Berg of Tyler, MN; one brother, Lee (Rosalyn) Wilking of Long Point, IL; many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents. Blessed be his memory.