Harmon E. “Doc” Wolken, 81, Erie, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 at the Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.

He was born on August 31, 1929 at Chanute, to Wendell and Marie Carpenter Wolken. He grew up at Chanute and attended country and Chanute schools.

He and Frances Wheeler were married on April 6, 1949 at the Neosho County Courthouse at Erie She survives, of the home.

He worked for the Beachner Construction Company as a crane operator for more than 50 years, retiring in 2007. He enjoyed fishing, camping, spending time with family. He especially enjoyed his poodle, Susie.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons, Dale Wolken and his wife, Donna, Erie, Wendell Wolken, Baxter Springs, Kevin Wolken and his wife, Vicki, Conway Springs, Bub Wolken and his wife, Debbie, Greenbush; three daughters, Kim Russell and her husband, Mike, Altoona, Karen Showalter and her husband, Skip, Erie, Brenda Welch and her husband, Jess, Erie; 40 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ray Wolken, Ottawa, and two sisters, Gwen Cunningham, Cherryvale, and Shirley Young, Chanute.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Bruce and Dan Wolken, one daughter, Penny Sexton, one grandson, Levi Wolken, two great-grandsons, Gavin Beard and Landis Wolken, two sisters and one brother.

Funeral will be 1 p.m., Monday, Feb. 7 at the First Baptist Church of Erie. Burial will follow in the East Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie from 4 to 6 Sunday evening. Memorials are suggested to Lake Parsons and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home 303 N. Grant St., P.O. Box 182, Erie, KS 66733. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.