Minnie Adeline Wilhelmi

WILHELMI, OTTO, WINTER

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/22/2018 at 15:03:34

Wapello Republican, January 24, 1935, page 5

Mrs. Minnie Wilhelmi, a dearly beloved resident of Wapello, passed away last Friday morning at a hospital in Burlington. She had been in failing health for some time.

Minnie Adeline Wilhelmi, daughter of Herman and Elizabeth Otto, was born near Wapello, Iowa, April 4th, 1869, being the eldest of six children.

When fourteen years of age, she moved with her parents to Wapello, Iowa, where she received her high school education. Later, she went to Burlington, Iowa, taking there special training and becoming adept in the art of millinery and costuming. She spent some time there and then returned to her home in Wapello.

On December 25, 1894, she was united in marriage with John F. Wilhelmi, son of Rev. J. P. Wilhelmi, then pastor of the German M. E. church in Wapello. After their marriage they took up their abode in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Mr. Wilhelmi was engaged as bookkeeper for the firm of Farwell, Ozman, Kirk and Co. Here they resided for many years and it was in this city, May 24, 1902, that their only child, Richard O. Wilhelmi, was born.

The severe winters of the north being detrimental to the health of their son, they moved to San Diego, California, about the year 1915, remaining there for several years.

In 1910 Mr. Wilhelmi purchased a tract of land near Grand Bay, Alabama, which he developed into an orange and pecan farm. This was their home, with the exception of several years spent in Wapello owing to the condition of Mr. Wilhelmi's health. While in Wapello, Mr. Wilhelmi was interested in and a member of the Wapello Clothing company. As his health improved, the lure of the Southland caused them to return to their farm near Grand Bay and here they were residing at the time of Mr. Wilhelmi's death, January 16, 1930.

Mrs. Wilhelmi then returned to Wapello to live with her aged father and to help care for him during his declining years. After his death, and on January 12, 1932, she returned to the south to live with his son, Richard and wife in Gadsden, Alabama.

Mrs. Wilhelmi became a member of the German M. E. church when a girl in Wapello, Iowa, and throughout her life has been closely identified with the church and its activities, being one time president of the Ladies Aid Society of the Grace M. E. church of Wapello, also organist of its Sunday school for a number of years.

Socially, she was an esteemed member of Chapter ET, P.E.O, and the Tarry Awhile club of Wapello.

Mrs. Wilhelmi possessed a rare personality. She was most companionable and happiness of others was her first solicitude. She loved to be of service to those about her. Of a retiring disposition, quiet and gentle, she carried with her, wherever she went, an atmosphere of refinement and culture. She also possessed unusual talents, many of which were unknown to her acquaintances, because of her extreme modesty. The faculty of making friends, was a gift with her and the love and respect tendered to her by her associates was something marvelous.

Funeral services were held from the Methodist Episcopal Church Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Dr. J. R. Fraser.

Mrs. Millicent Winter and Mrs. Estella Christie, with Miss Margaret Gerth at the piano, sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "One Sweetly Solemn Thought."

The officers of the P. E. O. Sisterhood gave the memorial service and burial was made in the Wapello cemetery.

The pallbearers were: Will, Ernest, Henry and Richard Winter, Pete and John Otto, all cousins of the deceased. Mrs. Anna Rouch, Mrs. Mayme Davison, Mrs. Grace and Miss Lue Erwin were in charge of the flowers.