Ernie William Wilkowski 1917-1992
Helen Ahlborg Wilkowski 1920-2011
Lt Col. Ernie W. Wilkowski(Ret.), 74, a resident of the Glasgow (MT) area for more than a quarter of a century and close-out commander at Glasgow Air Force Base, died at the Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital in Portland, Ore., May 11 following a long illness.
A son of Ernest and Mae Wilkowski, he was born Dec 24, 1917 in Fond du Lac, Wis. He married Helen Ahlborg Sept. 1, 1945, in Superior, Wisc.
He first entered military service in 1935 in the Naval Reserve. He enlisted in the army in 1941 and was accepted into the Army Air Corps in January of 1942. In 1943, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He flew 65 bombing missions in a B-26 for a total of 200 combat hours over Europe during World War II. After the war, Col. Wilkowski volunteered for Civil Air Patrol duty and acted as liaison in the organization and management units in Charlotte, N.C., Racine, Wisc., and Yuma, Ariz.. It was during this duty that he headed a mission of outstanding U.S. cadets to Switzerland for a summer training session. He was awarded glider wings for soloing with the Swiss Army. He piloted the C-45s, C-47s, and B-25s for 22 years while with the Air Force. Col. Wilkowski was named outstanding supply officer by headquarters USAF in 1963 for organization and operation of a PACAF pilot program for consolidation of organizations while stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii. He was stationed at Glasgow Air Force Base in 1964 as deputy base commander for supply and was named commander and close-out officer in 1968. He retired from military service July 31, 1969 and remained in the Glasgow area until the time of his death.
During his military career, he earned the Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign with Foreign Service, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign with assault landing, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal/Germany, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Overseas Unit Award/Long Tour with bronze oak leaf cluster, French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Col. Wilkowski was a member of Glasgow Wranglers Kiwanis and served as Montana District Governor from 1986 to 1987. He was a Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and was active in these organizations until the time of his death.
He enjoyed spending summers in Rhinelander, Wisc., camping in his Airstream near the lake and visiting lifelong friends. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends, collecting trophies and stories.
Helen Louise Ahlborg Wilkowski was born to Carl and Mildred (Nelson) Ahlborg in Duluth, MN on August 26, 1920, Women's Suffrage Day. She left this earth a finer place on October 17, 2011 at the age of 91. Helen was married to her "flyboy hero", Ernie Wilkowski on September 1, 1945 after a whirlwind romance during his short leaves to Rhinelander, Wisconsin where Helen was an elementary teacher.
During Helen's rich and rewarding life, she was a dedicated military wife for over 30 years and shared exciting tours to Germany and many of our states, including Hawaii where the family helped celebrate statehood shortly after their arrival. Whether she found herself living in a converted barracks or castle, she always transformed it into "home". Helen enjoyed later travels with Ernie as the First Lady for Montana Kiwanis traveling the US and visiting Ireland, Austria and Sweden. Floating the Missouri, camping throughout Montana or spending the summers in the Airstream at Lake Thompson in Wisconsin, Helen loved sharing outdoor adventures with her family.
Helen was an enthusiastic mother, teacher, volunteer and companion. She taught periodically during her lifetime and took on full time teaching when Ernie retired from the military. She was Glasgow's elementary music teacher starting at North Star School at the former Glasgow Air Force Base and then to South Side and Irle schools. Helen instilled the love of music and theatre in her family, grandkids and great grandkids as well as many of Glasgow's youth. She shared her "musical awesomeness" with her family as is evident by the many talented musicians that follow her. Helen was the organist at St. Raphael's Catholic Church for many years and a devoted Circle member. Her final playing days were spent at the Sunshine Square, Valley View Home, where she was reunited with the precious organ she had donated so many years prior.
Helen was a lifelong Red Cross volunteer, Kiwanian "piano player", Board President for Hi-Line Home Program and Regional Council Member for Developmental Disabilities.
A son of Ernest and Mae Wilkowski, he was born Dec 24, 1917 in Fond du Lac, Wis. He married Helen Ahlborg Sept. 1, 1945, in Superior, Wisc.
He first entered military service in 1935 in the Naval Reserve. He enlisted in the army in 1941 and was accepted into the Army Air Corps in January of 1942. In 1943, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He flew 65 bombing missions in a B-26 for a total of 200 combat hours over Europe during World War II. After the war, Col. Wilkowski volunteered for Civil Air Patrol duty and acted as liaison in the organization and management units in Charlotte, N.C., Racine, Wisc., and Yuma, Ariz.. It was during this duty that he headed a mission of outstanding U.S. cadets to Switzerland for a summer training session. He was awarded glider wings for soloing with the Swiss Army. He piloted the C-45s, C-47s, and B-25s for 22 years while with the Air Force. Col. Wilkowski was named outstanding supply officer by headquarters USAF in 1963 for organization and operation of a PACAF pilot program for consolidation of organizations while stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii. He was stationed at Glasgow Air Force Base in 1964 as deputy base commander for supply and was named commander and close-out officer in 1968. He retired from military service July 31, 1969 and remained in the Glasgow area until the time of his death.
During his military career, he earned the Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign with Foreign Service, European/African/Middle Eastern Campaign with assault landing, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal/Germany, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Overseas Unit Award/Long Tour with bronze oak leaf cluster, French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Col. Wilkowski was a member of Glasgow Wranglers Kiwanis and served as Montana District Governor from 1986 to 1987. He was a Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and was active in these organizations until the time of his death.
He enjoyed spending summers in Rhinelander, Wisc., camping in his Airstream near the lake and visiting lifelong friends. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends, collecting trophies and stories.
Helen Louise Ahlborg Wilkowski was born to Carl and Mildred (Nelson) Ahlborg in Duluth, MN on August 26, 1920, Women's Suffrage Day. She left this earth a finer place on October 17, 2011 at the age of 91. Helen was married to her "flyboy hero", Ernie Wilkowski on September 1, 1945 after a whirlwind romance during his short leaves to Rhinelander, Wisconsin where Helen was an elementary teacher.
During Helen's rich and rewarding life, she was a dedicated military wife for over 30 years and shared exciting tours to Germany and many of our states, including Hawaii where the family helped celebrate statehood shortly after their arrival. Whether she found herself living in a converted barracks or castle, she always transformed it into "home". Helen enjoyed later travels with Ernie as the First Lady for Montana Kiwanis traveling the US and visiting Ireland, Austria and Sweden. Floating the Missouri, camping throughout Montana or spending the summers in the Airstream at Lake Thompson in Wisconsin, Helen loved sharing outdoor adventures with her family.
Helen was an enthusiastic mother, teacher, volunteer and companion. She taught periodically during her lifetime and took on full time teaching when Ernie retired from the military. She was Glasgow's elementary music teacher starting at North Star School at the former Glasgow Air Force Base and then to South Side and Irle schools. Helen instilled the love of music and theatre in her family, grandkids and great grandkids as well as many of Glasgow's youth. She shared her "musical awesomeness" with her family as is evident by the many talented musicians that follow her. Helen was the organist at St. Raphael's Catholic Church for many years and a devoted Circle member. Her final playing days were spent at the Sunshine Square, Valley View Home, where she was reunited with the precious organ she had donated so many years prior.
Helen was a lifelong Red Cross volunteer, Kiwanian "piano player", Board President for Hi-Line Home Program and Regional Council Member for Developmental Disabilities.