Mildred was born to the late George and Mary (Caton) Bontjes in Scott Township, Ogle County, Illinois on September 19, 1925. She was a 1943 graduate of Byron High School. She was proud of her work as a “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II at the J.I. Case plant in Rockford. Mildred worked as a switchboard telephone operator, then many years as manager of the Illinois Room at Weise’s in Rockford, and also at Beef-a-Roo.
She married Robert Whipkey, the love of her life, on June 1, 1945 in Rockford, IL. He passed away on April 30, 1998. The marriage was blessed with six children Robert Jr (Marilyn) of Moro, IL, Katherine (Larry) Witherby of Belvidere, IL, Deborah (Gary) Balluff of Roscoe, IL, Bradley (Valerie) of Machesney Park, IL, Gregory (Tracy) of Longmont, CO, and Jeffery (LeeAnn) of Roscoe, IL.
Mildred enjoyed her grandchildren. She was blessed with knowing and loving Jennifer Weber, Michael Whipkey, Amanda Schaffer, Amy Lopez, Brianne Condron, Brittany McGee, Robert Scott Whipkey, Christina Borcherts, Corrine Baron, Cassandra Tesslaff , Elise Smith, Josh Whipkey, Aubrey Whipkey, Jessica Carroll, Andrea Whipkey, and Morgan Whipkey. Her joy was knowing her 20 great-grandchildren, and 2 great, great-grandchildren.
Mildred was kind and soft-spoken, and always had time to answer a question or solve a problem, no matter how small. She enjoyed card games, spelling bees, thinking puzzles, and, of course, winning. She is dearly missed by her loved ones, who celebrate the fact that she is celebrating eternal life with Jesus.
In addition to her children Mildred is survived by her sisters Dorothy Jackson of Byron, and Nylia Larson (Ken) of Oxnard, CA, and brother Ken Bontjes (Lois) of Byron, sister-in-law Mary Bontjes of Byron, Marjorie Bontjes of Rockford, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, George Ralph, Russell Eugene, Walter Earl, and sisters Mary Norene Ackerman and Lois Ann Dauphin.
She will missed by her family and her many friends at Crimson Pointe.
A special thank you to her sister, Dorothy Jackson, for being there for her when she needed it the most.
Visitation will take place at 12:00 p.m., on Friday, January 4, 2019 at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd, Machesney Park, IL 61115 with a funeral service to follow. Christian burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
