Robert John Wilkening

Robert J.Wilkening, 73, of Lake Charles, LA, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2020 at a local hospital.  Robert was born on December 14, 1944, in Chicago, IL to Frank and Katherine Wilkening where he lived until 1962.

Robert graduated from high school in June of 1962 and joined the Air Force serving for 21 years.  He had four tours overseas, for a total of ten and a half years.  He retired at the rank of Master Sergeant at the Lake Charles Air Force Station in August of 1983.

After his distinguished Air Force career, Mr. Wilkening attended McNeese State University part time for three years earning thirty credit hours.  He also worked for RGIS inventory service from 1984 to 1994.

In 1987, Mr. Wilkening was hired by the US Postal Service as a rural carrier sub.  He worked as a sub until 1995 when he made regular on rural route 3 in Lake Charles.  He retired after nineteen years as a rural carrier in December of 2006.

Robert was preceded in death by his father, Frank, his mother Katherine, his sister, Elizabeth, and all grandparents, uncles and aunts.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Yenjit Srihakots Wilkening, a native of Thailand; son, Robert F. Wilkening and wife Erika; grandchildren, Sebastian, Elisa, and Erick Wilkening; two nephews in Illinois, and one niece and one nephew in Tennessee; a cousin in Arkansas and many in-laws in Thailand. He will be sorely missed by family and friends.