Langel, Karla Lily "Lil" 1931-2012

LANGEL, WILTMAN, GROENHAGEN, PREHN

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/20/2017 at 14:19:46

Note: She is buried by the last name of Wiltman.

Karla 'Lil' Wiltman Langel

Karla "Lil" Wiltman Langel, 80, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars.

Karla Lily Groenhagen was born Dec. 24, 1931, in Cherokee, the daughter of Henry and Karla (Prehn) Groenhagen. Karla was known as "Lil" to family and friends. She was raised on farms in rural Plymouth County. She attended schools in Struble and Merrill.

As a young woman, Lil worked for a local hatchery in Le Mars candling eggs. She also worked at a bakery on Plymouth Street, where she met her future husband, Wendell "Butch" Wiltman. The couple soon married on Sept. 27, 1951, in Worthington, Minn.

Lil had worked as a waitress for several cafés in Le Mars. For many years, she worked at the Le Mars Eagles Club and served as the manager for several of those years. Butch died in 1978. Later in life, Lil worked at Fuel-N-More in Le Mars.

Lil enjoyed bowling and for years bowled in a couple of different leagues. She also enjoyed playing bingo at the Eagles and going on trips to Lewis and Clark Lake in Yankton. Even after working at the Eagles Club, she continued to volunteer and be an active member. In recent years, Lil enjoyed going for motorcycle rides with her sons, Kim and Tim. Often getting off the bike with a "smile from ear to ear."

Survivors include her twin sons, Kim Wiltman and his wife, Paula, of Le Mars and Tim Wiltman, of Madison, Neb.; four grandchildren: Brad, John, and Kevin Wiltman and Carli Stephens; six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Elaine Spracklen, Joan DeSutter and her husband John, and Darlene Unholtz and her husband Charles, all of Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Wendell "Butch" Wiltman; a daughter in infancy, Bernadine; and three sisters, Caroline Irwin, Rose Mary Groenhagen, and Frieda Groenhagen.

Funeral services will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with the Rev. Tim Geitz officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Cemetery. Visitations will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitations will continue Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. until service time.

Pallbearers will be Brad Wiltman, Kevin Wiltman, Carli Stephens, Tom Unholtz, Mark Unholtz, and Devon Groenhagen. Honorary casket bearers will be Donna Langel, Pat Wetrosky, Helen Mayrose, Donna Laughton, and Mary Britton.

Memorials may be directed to the Le Mars Fire Rescue Department.

Le Mars Daily Sentinel
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Le Mars, IA