Daniel Wilkens

Daniel Wilkens was born on August 17, 1941 in Covington, Kentucky and died on September 11, 2021 in Suwanee, Georgia at home surrounded by his loved ones. Dan was 80 years old. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Judith Ann (Judy) Wilkens, his sister Diane Becker and his brother Tom Wilkens. Dan is also survived by his four daughters, ten grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Ann and Daniel Wilkens and his son, Daniel John Wilkens.

Dan's life was varied and exciting, with several career changes and several moves to new states and new homes. Dan was full of energy and sought out new opportunities around every corner. He met the love of his life, Judy, during his time at Villa Madonna College and they were married shortly after in 1966. During his time at Villa Madonna, Dan also started a chapter of the Alpha Delta Gamma Fraternity with some of his closest friends. Some of Dan's many careers during his lifetime were: Brick Layer, Analytical Chemist, Customer Service, President and CEO, Small Business Owner, Business Consultant. He worked at many companies, large and small: Cincinnati Milacron, Mobil Oil, Wesley Corporation, MacGregor Golf, Flip Tipps, Ceiling Doctor, and his own Consulting Company - Advanced Planning Associates. Dan also spent some time at Mizuno Corporation, where he was able to help start the American division of the company.

With several of Dan's career jobs, he was able to travel to many foreign countries and continents and spent significant time in Asia. Ultimately, Dan settled in Georgia where he and Judy raised their family and Dan retired. Dan spent many of his final years volunteering including: helping rebuild homes in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, sponsoring the move and cultural assimilation of a family of 5 from Sudan, Africa, and spending time volunteering at each Catholic Parish in the men's clubs, as a communion minister and working weekends at St. Vincent DePaul. He and Judy also spent several winters in an RV in Florida during the winters, which they both thoroughly enjoyed. Dan and Judy maintained lifelong friendships with many of their dear friends from high school and college.

Dan loved to work with his hands and was always building something new to improve the places he traveled, worked and lived. He will be remembered by the thousands of lives he has touched, with both his physical generosity and his constant counsel on any topic from those who sought his guidance.

A funeral mass and celebration of life for Dan will be held at 10am on November 12, 2021 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky. The reception will immediately follow at the Fort Michell Country Club. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Dan's name to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities https://www.aaidd.org/ in honor of Dan's first born son, Daniel John.