Edward Eugene Wilkins

July 31, 1953 - January 12, 2021

Age 67, of Essex, IL passed away Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at Edwards Hospital in Naperville, IL. Born July 31, 1953 in Richland Center, WI to the late Edward Earl and Jean Marie (nee Himes) Wilkins. Edward graduated from Joliet West High School with the class of 1971. He retired from the Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station after thirty years of employment. Edward was a former elder at the Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Braidwood and a current member of the River of Life Lutheran Church- Missouri-Synod in Channahon, IL. He was an avid fisherman, duck hunter, and overall was a great outdoors man. After retirement he enjoyed working at the South Wilmington Sportsman Club and volunteering at the youth hunts and many other activities they offered. Surviving are his beloved wife of forty-eight years, Barbara Leah (nee Rudd) Wilkins of Essex, whom he married July 15, 1972 at the St. Peters Lutheran Church in Joliet; three sons, Edward M. (Jeanine) Wilkins of Frankfort, IL, Patrick R. (Nicole) Wilkins of Wheaton, IL, and Clint (Elizabeth) Wilkins of Braidwood; eight grandchildren, Eddie, Dakota, Skylar, Amber, Joshua, Elijah, Magdalyn, and Nolan; three siblings, Robert (Gwen) Wilkins of Zellwood, FL, Debra (Paul) Merzlock of Joliet, and Kirk (Sheila) Wilkins of Braidwood; and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. Visitation for Edward will be at the R.W. Patterson Funeral Home and Crematory, Braidwood, Sunday, January 17, 2021 from 12:00p.m.-4:00p.m., with a funeral service beginning at 4:00 p.m. Cremation rites will be accorded following services. All attendees are required to wear face coverings, follow social distancing guidelines, and due to the capacity requirements, please be brief with your condolences to allow other guests to pay their final respects. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name to the River of Life Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society would be appreciated. For more information and to visit his online guestbook, please log on to www.rwpattersonfuneralhomes.com.