BOONE, Iowa—Loren George Wilhelm was born on April 14, 1934, on the family farm northwest of Johnson, Nebraska. He is the son (9th of 16 children) of Della (Kienker) and Albert Wilhelm. On May 27, 1934, he was baptized in the Zion Lutheran Church north of Johnson. At the age of four, the family moved to a farm near Gilbert, Iowa, and then moved to a farm southwest of LuVerne, Iowa, helping milk cows, feeding chickens, hogs, and calves, preparing the land for seed planting, harvesting oats and corn, bailing hay and several other duties. He attended Vernon Consolidated School in Renwick, Iowa, graduating in 1952. He also attended Eagle Grove Junior College in Eagle Grove, Iowa, for two years.
He then joined the Army, serving our country from February 1953 to January 1955. He went to Korea from July 1953 through December 1954, being a supply Sergeant for an anti-aircraft battery. He was awarded an honorable discharge.
On December 20, 1958, Loren married Betty Jorgensen in the Lutheran Church in LuVerne, Iowa, to which four children were born, Tim, Kay, Chris, and Kurt.
In May of 1959, he graduated from Iowa State College, now known as Iowa State University, In Ames, Iowa, with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He taught primarily junior high mathematics at the Boone Jr. Sr. High School until 1962, then studied the new mathematics for one year at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
In June 1963, Laren began working for the Percival Refrigeration and Manufacturing Company in Boone (having worked part-time there while teaching) as an engineer for refrigerated display cases for stores and a few environmental chambers. He later became chief engineer as the business evolved more with the building of environmental cases for use in experimental studies at colleges and private businesses, to which the company name was changed to Percival Scientific Inc., and eventually was moved to Perry, Iowa, and worked there until retirement in June 2003.
During his spare time and then during retirement, he enjoyed woodworking and doing various “projects” around the house and for his church, Trinity Lutheran Church in Boone.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Tim and Kurt; parents, brothers, Wayne, Dennis, Burnis, Keith, and Milton; and sisters, Lois, Arlene, Joan, and Norma.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty Wilhelm; daughter, Kay Wilhelm; son, Chris (Andrea) Wilhelm; grandchildren: Mitchel Wilhelm, Derek Wilhelm, Ryan Wilhelm, Jennifer (Rick) Schulte, Greg (Heather) Wilhelm; great-grandchildren: Aaron Schulte, Cody Wilhelm, Declan Wilhelm, and another on the way; brothers, Kenneth Wilhelm and Ronald Wilhelm; and sisters: Margaret, Donna, Elaine and Sharon.
Regarding guides for his life, he believed the teachings in the Holy Bible are major, and his spiritual Christian faith is his motivating force. (Written by Loren)
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 11, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boone, with Pastor Jessten Heimer officiating. Interment will be at Linwood Park Cemetery following the funeral service. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home in Boone.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family to be used at their discretion.
The Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 609 7th Street, Boone is assisting the family with these arrangements.
