Mildred M. Jilka
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Mass of Christian Burial for Mildred Mary Jilka, 92, Lawrence, Kansas will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence, Kansas, Fr. Mick Mulvany officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Salina, Kansas. She died March 3, 2017 at Brandon Woods senior living community in Lawrence, Kansas.
She was born on May 5, 1924 in Seneca, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph Henry and Appolonia (Fangman) Strathman.
She graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School, Seneca, Kansas, and from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. She taught Home Economics at Sacred Heart High School, Salina, Kansas.
She married Laurence Edward Jilka on August 30, 1947 in Seneca, Kansas. He preceded her in death on September 7, 2008. Millie and Larry were volunteers at Smoky Hill Museum, and Meals on Wheels, Salina, Kansas; and they enjoyed traveling and dancing together, and pursuing family genealogy.
She is survived by her children, Bob (Judy), Little Rock, AR, Ed, Silverton, CO, Mary Jilka (Wes Nakajima), Lexington, KY, David (Patti) of Lawrence, KS, and Monica Gutierrez (Steve) of Lawrence, KS; two brothers, Bob Strathman, Seneca, KS, and Lyle Strathman, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two sisters, Rose Mary Riley, Iola, KS, and Judy Oden, Lincoln, NE; eight grandchildren, Kari Bacon, Chris Jilka, Kate Bree, Stephen Jilka, Andrew Jilka, Jessica Wright, Mateo Gutierrez, and Elena Gutierrez; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe, Art, and Bill Strathman; one sister, Betty Winterscheidt; and one grandson, Ryan Jilka.
A parish rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2017 followed by a visitation until 8:30 p.m. at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Sisters of St. Joseph in Concordia, KS or The Newman Center in Manhattan, KS and may be sent in care of the Mortuary.
Online condolences may be posted to www.warrenmcelwain.com
Dear Bob, Ed, Mary, Dave, Monica and your families,
I’m sorry for the loss of your dear mother. While your Dad and all her loved ones who have gone on are jubilant to be with her, it’s always hard to have your parents, especially your last one.
Your mother’s smile sticks with me and in my mind’s eye i see her chatting with her sisters, brothers and in-laws — and their mother arbitrating their stories with, “Oh! It wasn’t that way at all.” Gatherings with all of you were always so much fun.
Millie’s work on our shared family genealogy still amazes me. As I would read through the letters and all of the back and forth it took in the 1970’s and on through her research days, her dogged determination still strikes me. So many families had so many children who all named their children the same things! Without your mother’s efforts it would have been impossible to sort the facts from the guesses many people made in an effort to expand their family trees as quickly as possible.
Millie’s genealogical research is a gift to all who are in any way related to her and will continue to be a special gift as long as people use Ancestry.com (or whatever it morphs into.)
Thank you for sharing your dear mother with my family and me. I’ll always remember her fondly.
Love,
Sue Strathman Wolff
Dear Bob, Ed, Mary, Dave, Monica and your families,
I’m sorry for the loss of your dear mother. While your Dad and all her loved ones who have gone on are jubilant to be with her, it’s always hard to have your parents, especially your last one.
Your mother’s smile sticks with me and in my mind’s eye i see her chatting with her sisters, brothers and in-laws — and their mother arbitrating their stories with, “Oh! It wasn’t that way at all.” Gatherings with all of you were always so much fun.
Millie’s work on our shared family genealogy still amazes me. As I would read through the letters and all of the back and forth it took in the 1970’s and on through her research days, her dogged determination still strikes me. So many families had so many children who all named their children the same things! Without your mother’s efforts it would have been impossible to sort the facts from the guesses many people made in an effort to expand their family trees as quickly as possible.
Millie’s genealogical research is a gift to all who are in any way related to her and will continue to be a special gift as long as people use Ancestry.com (or whatever it morphs into.)
Thank you for sharing your dear mother with my family and me. I’ll always remember her fondly.
Love,
Sue Strathman Wolff
Dear Dave, Patty and family,
We are so sorry for your loss, our thoughts and prayers are
with you and your family. Patty, Mom always told us how much
Millie meant to you! Dave, your parents raised a wonderful
family and their work here is done. They are together now with the Lord, who certainly welcomed Millie into his kingdom with open arms!
We will see you at Mount Calvary on Wednesday.
Love to All,
Mike and Stephanie
Dear Bob, Ed, Mary, Dave & Monica and families,
I’m sorry to hear of your loss. Aunt Millie was a great woman. I will remember her teaching me to sew, and going to her and Uncle Larry’s house to sing Christmas carols and enjoy cookies together, as well as other memories. The great photo posted here captures her lovely smile, which remains in my heart and memory. Sorry I will not be joining you for the funeral, but I’ll be thinking of all of you as you celebrate Millie’s great life and legacy. Love,
Kathy
Dear Mary Lou,
I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. I loved seeing her picture in the paper. That’s just how I remember your Mom’s warm smile. I just attended Sacred Heart that one year, our senior year, and never took a course from your mom that I remember, but she was so pretty and so radiant and kinds that I will always remember her fondly. My very kindest regards.
Brenda Burns
Dear Monica, Steve, Jessica, & Sean,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Bruce A. Carter & Family
P.S. My mother, Yvonne Kellogg Carter, and Jessica’s grandfather, Ragene Wright, were first cousins. I am a second cousin to Randy Leigh Wright, Jessica’s father. I also taught several members of the Gutierrez Family in Russell, Kansas. And, I went to college with Norma Gutierrez and David Peck.