Leonard L. Wilhelm

Leonard L. Wilhelm, age 86 years, of Wymore died Saturday,
Oct. 22, 2011 at the Beatrice Community Hospital. He was born March 3, 1925 at Beatrice and spent his childhood on a farm near Plymouth. Leonard married Velma Jeanne Meredith on Sept. 28, 1945 at Marysville, KS. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II from December 31, 1942 until January 25, 1946. He was employed for the City of Beatrice Electric Dept., then farmed near Burchard. They moved to Wymore from Beatrice almost sixty years ago. He was later the Light and Water Superintendent for Wymore, and together with his wife, they owned and operated the J & L Hardware Store in Wymore for 20 years, retiring in 1988. Leonard served on the Wymore City Council, the Wymore Housing Authority, and the Wymore Country Club Board of Directors. He was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Anderson Post #25 of the American Legion at Wymore where he served as an active member of the Honor and Color Guard; and Geddes-Thober Post #1077 of the V.F.W. at Beatrice. His hobbies included playing golf, playing cards, and chopping wood.

Leonard is survived by his daughter, Sheryll Sokolik and her husband Robert of Grand Island; Leonard Wilhelm, Jr. and his wife Kate of Beatrice; by two grandsons, Robert Sowo and Joseph Sokolik; by five great grandchildren; by a brother Alan Wilhelm of Beatrice; by a sister, Lorene King of Chesterton, Indiana; and by nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Carl and Anna (Moeller) Wilhelm; by his wife, Jeanne, on Nov. 27, 2008; and by six brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 11th & L Streets, Wymore, P.M.A. Ernest Waltke officiating. Military service will be conducted by Anderson Post #25 at the Blue Springs Cemetery. The body will lie in state at the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, and at the church one hour preceding the service. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 A.M. Wednesday in the fellowship hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial is established to the church with Peggy Henrichs and Betty Jurgens in charge. An online register book and messages of condolence may be sent on www.ghchapel.com.

Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home, Wymore, is in charge of arrangements.