Jean E. Wikle

is honored with a Brick from Imogene Gick Fleming.

Jean Johnson Wikle was born in Trousdale, KS, moved to Wichita, KS with her parents and younger sister when she was five years old. Jean graduated from Friends University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration, and was given special recognition with a Certificate of Award at the Awards Convocation for graduating with the highest grade in the Business Administration Department. She also has an Associate of Science degree in Accounting from Friends University where she received recognition for the next to highest grade in the Accounting Department. In addition, she is a graduate of the Estelle Compton Modeling School.

Jean is married to William H. Wikle, who is a retired Professional Mechanical Engineer, graduate of Kansas State University. Together they have a son, Darell L. Wikle, one granddaughter, and two great-granddaughters.

Mrs. Wikle sold her professional accounting business five years ago to another accounting firm in Wichita, but still works part-time for a few businesses. She owns two farms (one in Greeley County, the other in Pratt County, KS), plus is active in several organizations. Work is very special to her. Mrs. Wikle is very conscientious and thorough on every project she works and contributes to the lives of others and to the community. She is very successful in many areas and has an idealism in ideas. She feels truth and justice are the most important in life. Jean has resourcefulness and enthusiasm, is a quick thinker, and can do a multitude of things. She extracts a lot of knowledge from traveling and especially enjoys the trips if there are classes she can attend while there.

Mrs. Wikle tries to learn about something new every year, like politics, update on accounting and tax laws, sewing, knitting, parliamentary procedures for clubs and politics, farming, cooking, nutrition, computers, investments, and the world in general. She is very goal-oriented, is good at analysis, knows a multitude of people, has a lot of inner depth, has spiritual fulfillment, and is a great contributor to society.

Mrs. Wikle is very caring of other people as she was a caregiver for her parents and handicapped sister for twenty-four years. She has done volunteer work at the Kansas Masonic Home and Wesley Hospital; has sung and played the piano at Christmas programs in nursing homes in and around Wichita; has helped raise money in several organizations for student scholarships, political campaigns, YWCA, Women's Crisis Center, Operation School Bell, Red Cross, cancer funds, Venture House, Starkey School for the Mentally Retarded, United Fund drives, the Historical Hypatia House; and has chaired church fundraisers.

Mrs. Wikle worked at the Fourth National Bank in Wichita, KS for nine years, where she also took several banking courses offered by the State Banking School. She was part-owner with her parents in the J&S Furniture, Inc., "The Maple Shop," for eight years until her parents' health failed and the store was sold. She taught piano lessons in her home, was active in the PTA, and was a Cub Scout mother when her son was growing up. She was an accompanist for the Swingin' Phi's Chorus for thirteen years, organist in the Constellation Chapter of the Eastern Star for eight years, pianist in the Children's Chapel at her church for five years while her granddaughter was in grade school, and pianist in school orchestras at Roosevelt Junior High School and Wichita East High School.

Mrs. Wikle is a life member in the American Association of University Women, where she has held several offices at the Wichita general meetings and is an active member in the Sophisticates Group of AAUW. She's a life member in the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority where she is active in the Preceptor Lambda Chapter, and has held all the offices and has been the chapter "Valentine Queen." She is a life member in the National Federation of Music Clubs, life member in the State Federation of Music Clubs, and has held several offices in the Wichita Musical Club, where she has been the Treasurer for the past ten years. She is an active member in the Inspiration Fine Arts Colony located in Eureka Springs, AR.

She is currently President of the Normandy Republican Women's Club, helping raise money for candidates and helping our Governor campaign for the primary election. She has attended the national, state, and district meetings for the Federated Clubs she belongs to, therefore enabling her to meet many of the top national, state, and local politicians in the Federated Republican Party and the Federated Music Club officers.

Mrs. Wikle is a member of the National Society of Public Accountants, the Kansas Public Accountants Association, National Association of Tax Practitioners, American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, Hypatia Beta Club, where she has held all the offices and chaired several committees, Thursday Afternoon Music Club, where she has held several offices, The Twentieth Century Club, where she has chaired the morning music hour, Project Beauty, several bridge clubs, Helianthus Club, League of Women Voters, and National Organization for Women, where she is an advocate for women's rights. She's an active member in Daughters of the King at the St. John's Episcopal Church. Both Jean and her husband are currently on the planning committee for their 50th year Wichita East High School Reunion.

I believe Mrs. Wikle is a great contribution to this world for all the above and so much more. I feel she deserves to be honored in the "Plaza of Heroines."

Submitted by Imogene Gick Fleming

September 15, 1998