Wilkie Cottengim

Wilkie Cottengim, son of the late Denver and Pearl (Ridens) Cottengim, was born on December, 9, 1940, in Norwood, Missouri, and passed away October 18, 2017, at Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove, Missouri. He was 76 years, 10 months, and 9 days of age.

Wilkie grew up in Norwood, Missouri. He married Donnasue Royal on October 5, 1963. They just celebrated 54 years together. On their 50th wedding anniversary they renewed their vows at Victory Hill Church.

He was a truck driver for over fifty years, where he earned the CB handle, “Gilligan” and his first diesel truck was named “The Minnow”. Wilkie was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Norwood #622. He was a guitar picker and loved to play and has played many jam sessions with friends in the garage. Wilkie was a very selfless person who was humble and never wanted the attention on him. He loved bluegrass music and attended many area bluegrass festivals.

Besides his late parents, Wilkie was preceded in death by six siblings, Van, Junior, Bob, Maydell, Jack, and Billy Gene, and a daughter, Sandy Freeman.

He is survived by his loving wife, Donnasue, two sons, Randy, and his wife, Jennifer, and Wayne Cottengim, all of Norwood, Missouri, daughter, Karen Mings and her husband, Kevin, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, two sisters, Mary Williams of Exeter, Missouri, and Sue Iorg and her husband, Alan, of Bruner, Missouri, ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and friends who will greatly miss him.