Doyle Wilke
July 15, 1930 - September 08, 2026
Obituary
MADISON - Doyle B. Wilke passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. He was born on July 15, 1930, in Watertown, Wis., to Herbert A. and E. Lorraine (Baker) Wilke of Waterloo.
Doyle graduated from Waterloo Public Schools in 1948 and earned his BBA in accounting from UW-Madison in 1952. He proudly served in the U.S. Army finance division while stationed in Missouri from 1952 to 1954.
In 1955, Doyle joined Oscar Mayer, a career he enjoyed for over 36 years. He held financial positions at the Madison and Davenport plants and the Corporate Office. Doyle finished his career as Director of Corporate Accounting/Assistant Treasurer. A position that involved acquisition of domestic subsidiaries such as Claussen and Louis Rich and foreign investments in Venezuela, Japan, Spain, Italy and Thailand. The financial divesture side of business was experienced with the sale of Oscar Mayer to General Foods and later General Foods to Philip Morris.
After retirement, Doyle developed the concept of the Oscar Mayer retiree organization devoted to camaraderie and community service (READI) and spent many hours volunteering with the group.
On February 14, 1954, Doyle married Betty Ann Low of Springfield, Mo., and was devoted to his family. Doyle loved to travel and did a lot of it with family and friends and the company. He especially enjoyed a Germany, Austria, Switzerland car trip with Betty and a family trip to Hawaii.
Doyle is survived by his wife of 72 years, Betty; children, Lesley Wilke-Nadler (Robert Nadler), Daniel Wilke (Penney Wetherbee) and Kristin Wilke (Melissa Theisen); grandchildren, Jennifer Diebling (Brian) and Kevin Wilke-Nadler (Karley); and four great-grandchildren, Zoe Diebling, Branson Diebling, Noelle Diebling and Monroe Wilke-Nadler. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Rebecca Ann; and parents, Herbert and Lorraine Wilke.
A memorial service will be held at ASBURY CHURCH, 6101 University Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church or St. Vincent de Paul Society. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761