WILHELM, Ben 1869-1933

WILHELM, BOYER, STOVER, GUSTAFSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/14/2015 at 11:13:41

Ben Wilhelm Dies Very Suddenly At Conrad Wednesday

Ben Wilhelm died suddenly at his home in Conrad about nine o'clock Wednesday morning. He was stricken with heart failure shortly after he had his breakfast and died within a few minutes. He had been afflicted with high blood pressure for several years.

Mr. Wilhelm was 64 years old. He was born in Grundy county and resided here all of his life. He was a son of the late Sol Wilhelm, one of the first residents of Grundy county.

Mr. Wilhelm was raised on a farm in Clay township. Later in his life he engaged in the furniture business in Conrad. He disposed of that several years ago and since that time resided on a farm adjoining the town of Conrad. He was twice married. His second wife and a son, Kermit, from the first marriage survive.

The funeral will be Friday afternoon at Conrad.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 August 1933, pg 1

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Many Attend Funeral Services For Ben Wilhelm

Funeral services for Ben F. Wilhelm were held at the Presbyterian church at Conrad Friday afternoon and there was a very large attendance. The services were conducted by the local pastor. Burial was in the cemetery at Alice.

Mr. Wilhelm came from a family of 14 children, all of whom were born in Grundy county. They are one of the oldest families in the county, the father, Sol Wilhelm, coming here 76 years ago.

Aside from the wife and son Kermit, surviving relatives are three sisters and five brothers. The sisters are Mrs. George Lighter from Moneta, Iowa; Mrs. Fred Martin, Warba, Minn.; Mrs. Emma Lighter, Rolfe, Iowa. The brothers are Clyde from Grundy Center, Sam from Sac City, Claude from Indiana, John from North Dakota and Kurt from Conrad.

Obituary
Benjamin F. Wilhelm, son of Solomon and Mary Ann Boyer Wilhelm, was born April 29, 1869, and departed this life Aug. 2nd, 1933, aged 64 years, 3 months and 4 days.

He was a member of one of the oldest families in this county. The family consisted of 9 sons and 5 daughters. His parents moved from Allegheny county, Penn., to Iowa in the year 1857, and settled on a tract of land in the Alice community, north of Conrad. He was a lifelong resident of the Alice and Conrad communities, having lived in Conrad for the past 26 years, where he first engaged in the furniture business for a while, and since has been engaged in farming.

On March 14, 1901, he was married to Anna Elizabeth Stover. To this union one son, B. Kermit, of Conrad, was born. Mrs. Wilhelm preceded her husband in death on Jan. 12, 1922. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Mrs. John Lighter and Mrs. Levi Sherbon, and by two brothers, Charles and Elmer.

On Aug. 29, 1929, he was married to Grace Gustafson, who survives her husband. He is also survived by five brothers and three sisters: Dr. Samuel Wilhelm of Sac City, Iowa; John, of Kenmar, N.D.; C. L. of Conrad; Claude V. of Elkhart, Ind., and Clyde of Grundy Center; Mrs. Emma Lighter, Rolfe, Iowa; Mrs. Jennie Lighter, Moneta, Iowa, and Mrs. Luella Martin of Warba, Minn. Also a number of nieces and nephews.

Mr. Wilhelm was a member of the Alice Church of God, but since living in Conrad has worshiped with the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations of that place. He took an active interest in every community project which was for its good, and held various official positions in the city at different times. At the time of his death he was a member of the city council.

He was a highly respected citizen, a good neighbor, a loving husband, and kind father. His active and useful life will be greatly missed by his family and the community. He is resting from his labors but his works will follow him, and his memory will long be cherished by all who knew him.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 August 1933, pg 12