Lois Wilhelm

LOIS ANN WILHELM

Cedar Rapids

Home at Last

Lois Ann Wilhelm, 80, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2017, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Visitation: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, where a Scripture service will begin at 5:30 p.m. Food, refreshments and a time to share memories will be throughout the visitation in The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home. Funeral service: 10 a.m. Thursday, March 16, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church. Burial: St. John's Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Lois was born to Clarence (Chop) and Ethyl Reinhart on Oct. 10, 1936, while living on a farm near West Branch, Iowa, before moving to a farm near Solon. On the farm, Lois was her Dad's "hired hand," milking Holstein cows and driving Farmall tractors. During Lois's last year of high school, her father knew his "hired hand" would be leaving, so he sold the cows.

Lois graduated from Stone Academy in 1950, being the only student in each grade of the one-room country school. In 1954, she graduated from Solon High School with a total of 12 students, six boys and six girls. She went to Omaha for flight attendant training. Upon graduation from flight attendant training, she was to go to Washington, D.C., but she acquired the mumps and did not go. Lois then began working for Collins Radio and moved into an apartment in Cedar Rapids.

One night in October 1955, she was cruising down Third Avenue in Cedar Rapids near Immaculate Conception Church when a 1955 Dodge pulled up beside her. In this vehicle were four males. The next morning there was a note on the windshield of her 1954 Ford, saying, "You and your friend Sandy seemed like a lot of fun. Call this number when you have time." Lois waited a week before calling, hoping it was the guy in the back seat behind the driver. It was. From that moment on, she and Daniel did not leave each other and were married June 2, 1956, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Solon.

Lois had two long-term jobs working at Mercy Medical Center for 48 years and driving a school bus for Holy Family schools in Cedar Rapids.

She loved her family and made great chocolate chip cookies, kolaches and homemade bread.

Survivors include four children, Brad Wilhelm of Independence, Jodie Wilhelm of San Diego, Calif., Jill (Wade) Miller of La Crosse, Wis., and Kyle (Lindsey) Wilhelm of Wellington, Colo.; nine grandchildren, Ashley (Mike) Kaelber, Briana Rickertsen, Kristin Wilhelm, Adam Wilhelm, Meghan Wilhelm, Noah Rickertsen, Caleb Miller, Libby Miller and Spencer Wilhelm; and four great-grandchildren, Brody, Aubrie, Parker and Annie Kaelber. Also surviving are four sisters, Virginia Stahle, Betty Kacena, Judi Early and Janice Miller; brother-in-law, Gus (Mary Ann) Wilhelm; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Wilhelm.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Daniel, of nearly 57 years on March 8, 2013; son, Jimmy, in March 1957; daughter, Mary Jo, on April 30, 1961; and son, John Joseph, on June 30, 1969.

Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?

Memorials may be sent directly to St. Ludmila's Catholic Church, 211 21st Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

Please share a memory of Lois at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.