Visitation will be held on Friday, January 3, from 5-7 pm at the Runge Mortuary. A celebration of Deana’s life and burial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the family or Gilda’s Club Quad Cities, Davenport, IA in Deana’s memory. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rungemortuary.com.
Deana was born on July 9, 1972 in Aledo, IL, to Pam Green and David Wilken. She graduated from Westmer High School in Joy, IL, and received her Associate Degree in Business at Scott Community College. Deana was employed as a High Limit Hostess at the Isle of Capri, Bettendorf, IA. She was later employed at Masonic Village, Inc., Davenport, IA, and finally in the Memory Care Department at Grand Haven Retirement Community, Eldridge, IA. It saddened her to leave all those she had the privilege of knowing and caring for.
Deana loved spending time with her sons, Alex and Kaleb. Knowing Deana was truly a blessing to everyone she met. She loved the times spent with her mom at Gilda’s Club, taking advantage of the excellent support they provided. She was always laughing and enjoyed life to the fullest, especially when she could talk her mom and friends into going to Goodwill, estate sales, and any yard sales she encountered along the way, which usually ended in chaos, crazy laughter, fun, and great bargains. Anyone looking for Deana knew to check the nearest Goodwill Store as she was well known as the “Goodwill Queen”.
Left to cherish her memories are her two sons, Alex and Kaleb; her parents, Pam and Tom Willits, Eldridge, IA, and David and Dianne Wilken, Oskaloosa, IA; brothers: Tommy Willits and his son, Austin, Andalusia, IL, and Brad Wilken and his children, Reid, Rhett, and Ryleigh; and sister, Brandi (Wilken) Brown and her sons, Hunter and Logen.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Dave Wilken; maternal grandparents, Dean and Kathryn Green; and paternal grandparents, Howard and Dorothy Wilken.
Deana and her family would like to thank Dr. Hill, Melinda Brokaw, and each member of the Oncology team for their kindness and care while being treated at the University of Iowa Oncology, Iowa City, IA.
