Margaret Wikan

Margaret Wikan, age 95 of rural Decorah, IA, passed away on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon, IA. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Decorah Lutheran Church 309 Winnebago St., with Pastor Peter Kowitz officiating. Burial will be in Decorah Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service at the church on Saturday. The service will be live streamed at: https://youtu.be/YQkaf1ybB-E Margaret was born on June 21, 1926, to Theodore and Alvina Klotzbach in the township of Monona, IA. She married John Henry Wikan at St. John’s Lutheran Parsonage in Locust, IA, on October 28, 1948. After their marriage, John and Margaret started their family and eventually settled down on their family farm in Decorah, IA, in 1958. They were members of the Decorah Lutheran Church for many years and were very strong in their faith. Margaret worked at Wapsie Produce, in Decorah, IA, for about 10+ years. She was a farmer and homemaker who was an expert in gardening, canning, sewing, and caring for her family and extended family. She loved to relax by playing games of Euchre, Penuchle, Solitaire, Gin Rummy, as well as doing crossword puzzles. She was known as a card shark, winning almost every card game that she played. Margaret had a soft voice and a big smile and loved to rock babies to sleep or hold the hands of her grandchildren. She was an excellent cook who continued the family legacy of making lefse, German Potato Salad, and fresh bread. She will be greatly missed. Margaret is survived by two sons: Ronald (Kathy) Wikan, of McGregor, IA; and Edwin (Lou Ann) Wikan, of Waukon, IA. Three daughters: Mary Murphy, of Decorah, IA; Pamela (Dale) Jones, of Waukon, IA; Charlene Bender, of Prairie Du Chien, WI; and a daughter-in-law (widow of son, William Wikan) Margie Wikan (Daryl) Moen, of Decorah, IA. Margaret is also survived by her eighteen grandchildren: Rob Wikan, Mendy (Derek) Chesebro, Amy (Eric) Lensing, Tara (Daniel) Stoddard, Gretchen (Christopher) Lettau, Eric Wikan, Corissa Wikan, Amanda (Jono Ruf) Wikan, Anna Marie (Grant) Olson, Chad Wikan, Cory Wikan, Colin (Jennifer) Wikan, Courtney Wikan, Robert Jones, Brian (Renee) Jones, David Bender, Megan Bender, and Daniel Bender; as well as seventeen great grandchildren: Aspen (Danny) Gingerich, Rilee Wikan, Alana, Deacon, and Drake Chesebro, Alexa (Alec) Fjelstul, Ashlyn Lensing, Aidan and Kyra Stoddard, Finn and Marit Lettau, Connley and Creighton Wikan, Robert John Jones, Jr., Emma and Isabella Pugliese, and Tyler Jones; a great-great-granddaughter: Bexley Gingerich; her sister-in-law: Ardis Klotzbach, of Decorah, IA; as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents (Theodore and Alvina Klotzbach), her husband John, her three sons: Darrel (1952), David (1974), and William (1997), her four brothers: Gerald, Leroy, Carlton, Richard Klotzbach; and her four sisters: Angie Roney, Ellen Peterson, Delores Kraby, and Irene Myhra.