Submitted by: Dan Rich
William L. Wilhelm Sr.
March 2, 1924 - Aug. 21, 2008
SOUTH BEND - William L. Wilhelm, Sr., 84, of South Bend,
passed away at 2:30 PM Thursday, August 21, 2008, in his home. He
retired in 1981 after 38 years of federal service from the United
States Air Force as master sergeant, U.S. Air Force Reserves,
then the Treasury Department as a U.S. customs officer. Mr.
Wilhelm was born on March 2, 1924, in Plymouth, IN, to Roscoe and
Chloe (Johnson) Wilhelm, and was a lifelong area resident.
On January 25, 1975, in South Bend, IN, he married Florence M. (Damp)
Fisette, who survives. Along with his loving wife,
Florence Wilhelm, he is survived by one daughter, Carol (Mike)
Penrose of Mishawaka; four sons, William L. Wilhelm Jr. of
Hanover Park, IL, Rodger (Marilyn) Fisette of South Bend, Howard
Fisette of Mishawaka and David (Donna) Fisette of South Bend; 16
grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ethel Dearing
of Ocala, FL. One brother, Lewis Jack Wilhelm, and one half
sister, Edna Mae Fry, preceded him in death. Mr. Wilhelm
was a member of Ireland Road Church of God, Mishawaka, and served
as an usher. He was a member of the B-26 Marauder Historical
Society, U.S. Air Force State and Local Chapters, VASA - Swedish
American Association, American Legion #161 and was a charter
member of VFW #6919, Culver.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday in Ireland Road Church of God, 16555 Ireland Road, Mishawaka. Rev. J. Mark Muncy, pastor of the church, will officiate, along with Rev. Milt Gould and Rev. Wilma Creech. Graveside services and burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. The family will receive friends from 2 to 6 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, and one hour prior to services in church. Contributions in memory of William L. Wilhelm Sr. may be made to the Military Honor Park at Michiana Regional Airport, P.O. Box 3356, South Bend, IN 46619; or to a church of choice.