Jacqueline Wilke

Jackie Wilke

Strong. Courageous. Hard-working. Independent. Generous. Loving. Caring. Fun and funny. Stubborn. Beautiful . . . inside and out. Jackie!

On November 7, 2015 at 1:45 am our beloved Jackie (Jacqueline Ann) Wilke, passed away after 15+ years of battle against her only enemy in life - cancer. At the time of her passing her children Robyn Ann, James and Nicole were by her side sending her on to finally get her angel's wings.

Jackie was born on August 18, 1961 in Minneapolis. She was the only child of Merton "Jack" & Shirley Wilke. She attended Greeley Grade School and Folwell Middle School in Minneapolis. And, although she attended South High School for a time, she never finished, choosing instead to leave school to provide fulltime care and comfort for her father when he was terminally ill with cancer and eventually passed away.

Jackie's mom Shirley (also known as "granny") was her best friend and biggest supporter through her childhood and during much of her adult life, until Shirley passed away in 2004. As with her father, Jackie stayed by Shirley's side throughout her lengthy and difficult battle with cancer, providing all of her physical cares as well as emotional and spiritual comfort. Jackie was by her side as she passed from this life into the next to become another angel watching over Jackie and other loved ones. Jackie's personal strength, strong work ethic and kind and caring nature were all traits passed to her by Shirley.

Raising three kind, loyal and loving children was one of Jackie's greatest lifetime achievements and her precious grandkids were without a doubt her greatest joy and delight during her all too brief lifetime. The walls of her bedroom were papered with photos of the grandkids she adored: Aiyana J. and Aiden Renner, Hadlei & Rylei Phillips, Dre, Maya, Claude, Cory, Sharia and Curtis Washington. She lived for the moments she could spend playing with and cuddling her grandkids. They will all miss Nana terribly.

Jackie's first battle with breast cancer started when she was just a vibrant, young mother. She took on the treatment for this dreaded disease with a "can-do" attitude never missing a beat and still providing all that was needed by her children Robyn, James and Nicole. Unfortunately, the breast cancer returned in some years later requiring Jackie to undergo a painful radical mastectomy and a long stretch of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. In the end Jackie won - she BEAT the breast cancer, and this time it was for good.

Jackie's final battle with her enemy, cancer, began in early 2014, when she was diagnosed with a small cell lung cancer. Between spring 2014 and fall 2015 Jackie endured two exhausting stretches of chemotherapy with a smile on her face and a cheerful attitude. And although she could be a "wee bit" impatient with the staff when there were delays in getting her treatments started or ended (she was always threatening to remove the IV's herself if the staff were too slow), everyone in the chemo center loved when Jackie came for treatment . . . she always greeted the doctors, nurses and other patients with high energy, laughed a lot, and knew all about what was happening in the lives of the nurses who cared for her, because she always made a point of asking them how they were doing or what was new. She was a ray of sunshine in otherwise dark days for many people receiving treatment for cancer. She was never fearful or depressed. She just said "let's get on with it." And she did.

Near the end of her life the cancer had spread from her lung to her brain, liver and lymphatic system. She was often in great pain, but soldiered on caring for herself, her family and friends. She never stopped fighting.

These were some of Jackie's favorite things:

a�� Attending school concerts and programs, soccer games, and any other type of event or activity involving her grandkids. She was so proud of each one of them!
a�� Parties and family get-togethers with family and friends - and for Jackie, it was ALWAYS "the more the merrier."
a�� Making Dream Catchers (there are several of her made with love dream catchers hanging in the chemo center where she was treated).
a�� Chocolate pudding, rice pudding . . . and anything sweet.
a�� Browsing through her large collection of family photographs - remembering and cherishing the people she loved.

In death Jackie leaves behind daughter Robyn Ann and son-in-law Matthew Renner of
Eagan (with whom she has lived for many years); son James Phillips of Eagan, and daughter Nicole Washington of Minneapolis, along with 9 of her cherished grandkids named above. Also surviving Jackie are many half/step brothers and sisters; aunts, uncles and cousins too numerous to mention and many, many, special friends. Jackie grieved deeply for her granddaughter Tamaya Rose and special niece Samantha Cora who preceded her in death.

Jackie - we love you to the moon and back! Rest in peace.