WIHLM, Alphonse Eugene 1923-2007

WIHLM, MERFELD, ESSER, BRUNSMA, HELGENSON, RAISTY, TREES, TRUE, PAULUS, BAKER

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 10/30/2009 at 17:40:31

ALPHONSE EUGENE WIHLM

ROCKFORD-Funeral serices for Alphonse Eugene Wihlm, 84, of 2331 Highway 14, Rockford, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Roseville (2395 Highway 14)with Father Brunkan officiating. Burial will be in the St. Marys Cemetery, Roseville.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today Oct. 5, at St. Mary's school gym in Roseville with a rosary service conducted by the Knights of Colombus and a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services saturday at the St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Alphonse Eugene Wihlm was born Sept. 5, 1923, north of Dougherty in Cerro Gordo County, the son of Joseph and Clara (Merfeld) Wihlm, and died Wednesday (Oct. 3, 2007) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

He received his education in Dougherty at St. Patrick Catholic School and graduated in June of 1942. After school he worked as a farmhand. He was united in marriage to Rose Delores Esser at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cartersville on Oct. 12, 1943. This union was blessed with 11 children.

In April of 1945, Alphonse entered the United States Navy and served with Navy Seabee Battalion 533 until April 27, 1946, when he was honorably discharged as Seaman first class.

Following his discharge, Alphonse and Rose started farming in March 1947 east of Dougherty and over the years they farmed in the Dougherty, Rockford, Marble Rock, Greene and Roseville areas until his recent illness.

Alphonse served on the board of education at St. Mary's of Greene, was a member of the Green Sportsman Club, was on the Rockford Coop Creamery Board, the Marble Rock Coop Farmers Elevator, Farm Bureau, Knights of Columbus, Greene, and also a 60-year member of the American Legion Post 268.

Alphonse enjoyed farming, fishing, bowling, playing cards, hunting, dancing and following his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in all their activities. The joy of his life was spending time with his wife of 64 years and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Alphonse is survived by his wife, Rose Wihlm; his 11 children, Bill (Shelby) Wihlm of Greene, Dan Wihlm of Madelia, Minn., Larry (Jane) Wihlm of Greene, Dick (Micki)Wihlm of Marble Rock, Kathy Brunsma of Harrogate, Tenn., Dave (Linda) Wihlm of Greene, Connie (Bruce) Helgenson of Lake Mills, Barb (Bob)Raisty of Greene, Rosie (Byron) Trees of Greene, Judy (Dave), True of Mason City and Mike (Londa) Wihlm of Greene; 32 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren(three more on the way), and four step-great-grandchildren; one brother, Joseph Wihlm, of Sheffield; one sister, Mary Paulus of Mason City; and one brother, Bob (Barb) Wihlm of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Clara(Merfeld)Wihlm; one sister, Rita Paulus; one step-brother, Francis Baker; one daughter-in-law Karen Wihlm, and two step-grandchildren, Shannon and Little David True.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Alphonse Wihlm Memorial to be designated for the Muse Norris Hospice Impatient Unit of Mason City in care of the family at 2331 Highway 14, Rockford, IA 50468.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Reid
s Funeral Chapel in Greene, 641-823-4457

[Mason City Globe Gazette]