Rusty Wilkening, age 76, passed away peacefully, quietly and quickly at 7:30 pm April 1st, 2017. She was born in Buckley, Illinois, Dec. 7, 1940 to Martin Wilkening and Irene Kesler. She was raised and loved by her Mom, Irene Ecker (Kesler) and her Dad, Victor Ecker. She is survived by her 4 brothers Kenneth Wilkening, Robert Wilkening, Delmar Ecker and Harold Ecker.
Rusty moved from Buckley as an adult and lived in California and Alaska, then settled in Apache Junction, Arizona for the remaining 25 years of her life, wanting to be close to her brother Bob, niece Bobbie, and nephew Tracy.
She loved sports and played basketball professionally for the “All American Red Heads”, leaving a legacy in this world for herself and our family. She also loved playing softball which she did regularly into her 50’s. She was proud of the opportunity to have played snow shoe softball in Alaska.
Rusty was independent and lived life on her own terms. She embraced life and took the time to have lots of fun enjoying camping, sports, wood working, watching westerns on TV, and smoking cigarettes. She always had a single dog in her life, through the years all of which provided companionship, and someone to enjoy life with. Duke was her last dog which was named after John Wayne her western TV hero. Rusty spent the last 2 years of her life in Assisted Living at Brookdale Baywood well cared for. She still enjoyed smoking and always asked about Duke’s new home and how he was doing, even to her last day. As she lived her life, Rusty departed us on her own terms and was fortunate enough to depart as she wished.
She will be remembered in our hearts forever.
Her funeral and burial are being held April 6th privately with her family at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery.
You ate very loved and missed
One of my favorite people in our youth. We were both outcasts in different ways. Play hard in the sky, as you always did on this earth.