COLUMBUS-Leslie "Les" Eldred Wilken died on his 87th birthday, Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Home Again Assisted Living in Columbus, WI. Les was born on March 20, 1938 in Watseka, IL to Eldred and Berniece (Ristow) Wilken. His family lived on several farms in the Onarga, IL area where Les worked long and hard, driving tractor by age eight. His childhood highlights included outdoor fun swimming in the creek, skating, and sledding, helping his dad with farm work, and raising Hampshire sheep for a 4-H project that turned into a family business. Les attended a one room country school for four years before going to Onarga schools in town. He graduated from Onarga High School in 1956 where he was actively involved in athletics and clubs, holding leadership roles. Les lettered in track and football and was starting guard on his senior year's undefeated football team. In his summers from age 16 through college, Les worked on a silo construction crew in multiple states, which in addition to his

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