Jack Dean Wilkening

December 10, 1941 - September 30, 2024

Jack passed away September 30 that his daughter's home in Walla
Walla, Washington. He was 82 years old. He was born in Sigourney,
Iowa to the parents of Rex Hayes Wilkening and Helen Danner
Wilkening. He is survived by a brother Darrell of What Cheer, Iowa and
four children, Naomi Thomas of Walla Walla Washington, Vince
Wilkening of Clarkson Washington, Carol Lee Cousins of Kentucky and
Cody Cleveland of Dayton, Washington. He also has four grandchildren
and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents,
his sister Kay Wilkening and wife Elenor Rock Wilkening.
Jack had a long and interesting life. He grew up on a farm east of
Sigourney, Iowa. Attending a one room country school until entering
high school. Jack graduated in 1960, he enlisted in the Air Force shortly
after graduation and spent most of his enlistment stationed in Alaska.
He was there when the great earthquake of 64' hit southern Alaska.
After his enlistment was up he returned to Alaska and worked as an
iron worker for several years. He also worked training guard dogs and
caring for them for a security company. He also worked at servicing air
craft at Anchorage International Airport.
In 1972 Jack moved his family down to the pacific northwest. There he
worked for ranchers throughout Washington and Oregon. He also rode
the rodeo circuit there. His specialty was saddle bronc and bull riding.
Jack was also an accomplished guitar player. He eventually started his
own band, "The Long Hard Ride" They played all over the northwest
and down into California and even into Canada.

Jack always had a love for horses dating back to his early childhood.
When the band finally broke up he started training thoroughbreds and
quarter horses. He traveled all over the west and southern United
States racing his horses.
He moved back to Iowa in 1990 to help his sister take care of their
father who was suffering debilitating disease. After he passed away in
1991, Jack went to training and racing horses. He spent the next 25
years racing horses in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. He was involved with
the horses until his stroke in 2018. He made lots of friends wherever
he went and liked to tell stories of which he had many. There are many,
many more stories in his life. This was only the highlights.