Wilva Henriksen

Henriksen, Wilva M. BROOKLYN-Wilva M. Henriksen went to a better place, at the age of 95, on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. She has joined her husband of 64 years, after a separation of 12 years. He passed away in 1997. Wilva had resided at Sienna Meadows for the past two years. She was born to William and Bessie West, in Union Township, Rock County, on May 31, 1914. Wilva attended Brooklyn High School and graduated in 1931, at age 16. She then attended Rock County Normal School and received her teaching certificate. Wilva married Edward Henriksen in 1932, at the parsonage of the Methodist Church in Rockford, Ill. They lived a short while in Illinois before returning to the Brooklyn area. She spent many years working at the Corner Grocery in Brooklyn, and then became one of the two first cooks for the lunch program at Brooklyn School. In 1953, Wilva and Ed along with their oldest daughter purchased the restaurant in Brooklyn and named it the Welcome Inn. When it was sold, Wilva went to work for Manchester\'s for a period of time and finally ended her working years at GTE in Madison. She was a longtime member of the RNA, where she was the recorder for many years, and an active lifelong member of Brooklyn Methodist Church. Wilva is survived by five children, Cleo (Jerry) Tilley, Delwyn Henriksen, and Ila (Gary) Stephenson, all of Brooklyn, Renald (Vera) Henriksen of Rice Lake, and Stewart (Terry) Henriksen of Rineyville, Ky.; 14 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two grandchildren; three brothers, Harry, Myrlin and John West; and a daughter-in-law. Funeral services will be held at BROOKLYN METHODIST CHURCH, 201 Church St., Brooklyn, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, with the Rev. Gail Brown presiding. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL HOME, 431 Soden Drive, Oregon, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday. Gunderson OregonFuneral & Cremation Centers431 Soden Drive(608) 835-3515www.gundersonfh.com Cemetery: Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitation: Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL HOME, 431 Soden Drive, Oregon, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday. Service: Funeral services will be held at BROOKLYN METHODIST CHURCH, 201 Church St., Brooklyn, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, with the Rev. Gail Brown presiding.