ROBERT "BOB" WAYNE WILKAS
Thompsonville-Robert "Bob" Wayne Wilkas, 66, passed away at 6:50 P.M. on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 in the Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN.

Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday December 17, 2016, at the Murman & Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City with Pastor Gary Clark officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Saturday at funeral home. Military rites will be conducted by the Marion V.FW., American Legion, and Marine Burial Team. Burial will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday December, 19, 2016 at the Ebenezer Church Cemetery in Thompsonville.

Bob was born on July 15, 1950 in Herrin, the son of William and Rosemary (Paul) Wilkas. He married Mary E. (Oesterle) in Marion in 1995. She survives.

Bob was a graduate of Johnston City High School class of 1968 and a member of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church of Thompsonville.

Bob was a retired coal miner having worked in several mines throughout Southern Illinois, last working at American Coal in Galatia. He was a lifelong farmer and left the military to help his father William, on the family farm near Thompsonville.

Bob was a devoted father and grandfather. He absolutely adored his 14 grandkids and was committed to sharing everything he believed in with them.

He proudly served in the U.S. Marines Corps. from 1968-1977. He lived his entire adult life according to the Marine motto, of God, Country and Family.

He was an avid fisherman and participated in many bass tournaments, as well as deep sea fishing off the coast of Florida with his family.

He is survived by his wife of Thompsonville; his mother, of Springfield; four children, Eric Wilkas of Princeton, IN, Erica Coram of Florida, Tim Weber and wife Ashley of Johnston City, and Courtney Wilkas of Christopher; fourteen grandchildren, Alec, Lillie, and Drew Wilkas, Christian, Christopher and Carissa Sawyer, Madison and Bailey Weber, Tristyn and Kristyn Wyatt, Sara and Harley Coram, Shia Kellum and Sadie Fiorenzi; a sister, Kathy Paul of Springfield; a brother, Don King and wife Joyce of Thompsonville; a brother-in-law, John Oesterle and wife Marsha of Eureka; and a brother-in-law, Robert Oesterle of Ft. Mill, SC.

He was preceded in death by his father.

The family would like to give a special thanks to special friends and family, Barney Camden, Walter Novick and the staff at CLC-VA Hospital in Marion for their care and support.