John Lane “Jack” Wilhelm, 85, of Donnellson, died Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington.
He was born on Sept. 6, 1938, in New Boston, Iowa, the son of John S. and Mildred G. Smith Wilhelm. On July 12, 1959, he married Marjorie A. “Marge” Salter at New Boston Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife: Marge; sister: Bonnie Randolph of Fort Madison; brother: Barry Wilhelm of Bernice, Louisiana and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister: Donna Doyle and two brothers: Larry and Robert in infancy.
Jack was a 1956 graduate of Argyle Consolidated High School. He excelled in basketball and baseball. He served for six years in the Iowa Army National Guard Unit (Armored Division) as a tank driver and also served as a cook for his unit. Jack worked for ten years at Dryden Rubber Company/Sheller Globe as a pre-former and he worked for twenty-seven years at J.C. Hubinger Company/Heinz/Roquette America, retiring in 1992. Jack also farmed, raised cattle, hogs and Arabian horses. He was a member of the Donnellson United Methodist Church where he held various church offices over the years. He also served on the Argyle Memorial Garden Cemetery board for many years. He loved hunting as a young man and also enjoyed mushrooming, gardening, farming, traveling, reading, cooking and listening to music. Jack loved animals, especially his Arabian stallion “Bay Rafgez” and his special cat “Tiddly Winks”.
A visitation will begin at 12 noon, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, at Schmitz Funeral Home in Donnellson with Pastor Nancy St. Clair officiating.
Burial will be at Argyle Memorial Garden, rural Argyle, Iowa, with a flag presentation by the Donnellson American Legion Gillaspey - Moodie Post #474.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established in his memory for Argyle Memorial Garden, Donnellson United Methodist Church or Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.
Schmitz Funeral Home of Donnellson is assisting the family with arrangements.