Kirschman, Wilmer 1941-2002

KIRSCHMAN, PELTZ, SCHUMAN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2005 at 20:03:44

PELLA - Wilmer Kirschman M.A., 61, of Pella, died Saturday, Nov. 30, in Green Bay, Wis.

His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Second Reformed Church in Pella, the Revs. Steve and Sophie Mathonnet-Vander Well officiating. Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorials: Dollars for Scholars for the Wil Kirschman Scholarship, or Second Reformed Church in Pella. The family will receive visitors 3:30-5 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m. today at the Second Reformed Church.

Wilmer Kirschman was born Aug. 24, 1941, to Louie and Frieda Peltz Kirschman, in rural Elgin, N.D. He graduated from high school in Scottsbluff, Neb. While in high school he was lead actor in all musicals and plays, sang in the choir and was a member of art clubs. He attended Scottsbluff Junior College, then enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan College in Lincoln, Neb.

On Aug. 5, 1962, he married Peggy Lou Schuman at Gering Methodist Church in Gering, Neb. He completed his undergraduate degree at Nebraska Wesleyan in 1964; he studied music, art, drama and English. He then came to teach at Pella Community High School. He taught English, British literature, speech and drama there for 35 years. He earned a master of arts in speech and dramatics from the University of Iowa.

In 1999 he stopped teaching to spend time with his grandchildren. He was a member of Second Reformed Church in Pella, where he sang in the choir and was a deacon. He was a member of Alpha Psi Omega and the Iowa Speech Association. He was a member of Pella Historical Society, and for 15 years served as Pella's Sinterklaas.

He recently became involved in Dollars for Scholars. He wrote his own poetry, enjoyed singing and reading Western literature, Shakespeare and poetry, particularly Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. He enjoyed music, especially Eva Cassidy. He also enjoyed painting, and traveled to Germany and the Swiss Alps.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy; two daughters and a son-in-law: Bonnie J. Kirschman and Ben Goggins of Green Bay, Wis., and Brenda S. Kirschman of West Des Moines; two grandchildren: Emily and Thomas Goggins; two sisters: Adella Christman of Lemmon, S.D., and Luella Penner and husband Don of Longmount, Colo.; three brothers: Elmer (and Mildred) Kirschman of Sun City West, Ariz., Marvin Kirschman of Tampa, Fla., and James Kirschman of El Dorado Hill, Calif.; and a sister-in-law, Mary (Clarence) Kirschman of Redding, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Irene Kisser; and four brothers: David, Willard, Clarence and Egon Kirschman.

The Oskaloosa Herald, December 6, 2002