Kay Francis Wilkening, 70, of What Cheer passed away on Thursday, January 18,2024 at the Manor House Care Center in Sigourney, Iowa.  As per her wishes, no services are planned.  Burial will be held privately.  Holland-Coble Funeral Home of What Cheer is in charge of the arrangements.

Kay Francis Wilkening was born on January 14, 1954 to Rex and Helen Danner Wilkening at Rock Island, Illinois.  Kay enjoyed her brothers and lived a simple life.  She was adopted at the age of three.    She honored her mother and father and loved spending time at the Fairgrounds.  Growing up, she spent a lot of time at the Fairgrounds watching horse racing.  She met several famous people while there.  Kay always felt safe with her brothers, Darrell and Jack. She also visited Alaska and shared that she got to pan for gold.

Kay was married twice but later divorced.  She always wanted children of her own but that didn't work out.  Kay always advised young people to respect yourself, stop chasing material things, and make your children your priority.  Eat meals together every day regardless of how busy you are.

Kay preferred not to fight her cancer or know what type it was.  She didn't fear the idea of dying and felt very strongly that it was important for her to keep a positive attitude and not affecting the people around her with negativity or sorrow.  She chose to not know how much time the doctor thought she might have left because she didn't want it to change the way people treated her or made people feel uncomfortable.  She loved being in the presence of her parents and that gave her hope and courage to live her life just as she would have normally.  Her favorite sign hanging in her kitchen read, "Can't do anything about it, don't worry about it."

Kay is preceded in death by her parents, Rex and Helen Wilkening.

She is survived by her brother, Darrel Wilkening.