Obituary of Judith Dorothy Wilhelm

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Judith Dorothy (March) Wilhelm, 74, of Dyersville, Iowa passed away Sunday, April 9, 2017, at home surrounded by her family. Visitation will be held from 2 – 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil service will be held at 2 pm. Visitation will continue Wednesday from 9-10 am at Kramer Funeral Home prior to funeral services. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2017, St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Dennis Quint will officiate. Judy was born October 22, 1942, in Dyersville, Iowa, the daughter of Earl and Germaine (Lammers) March. She grew up in Worthington, Iowa, graduating in 1960 from the former St. Paul’s School. She was united in marriage to Henry J. Wilhelm on April 28, 1962, at St. Paul’s Parish in Worthington, Iowa. Together they raised their family in Dyersville. For over fifty years, Judy worked as a childcare provider, and was fondly known to many as “Grandma Judy.” She has blessed many with her handmade gifts, especially her hand knitted Christmas stockings. Judy especially enjoyed researching her family’s heritage and genealogy, as well as putting puzzles together. Judy was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Parish in Dyersville. She is survived by her husband, Henry of 54 years of marriage; six children: Ann (Paul) Rechterman of Coggon, IA, Debbie (Carl) Vorwald of New Vienna, IA, Donald “Donnie” (Kathleen) Wilhelm of Epworth, IA, Tammy (James) Clemen of Dyersville, IA, Tina (Gerald) Trowbridge of Urbandale, IA, and John (Bridget) Wilhelm of Peosta, IA; 16 grandchildren: Doug (Danielle) Fortmann, Jessica (Collin) Mack, Brian, Tim, Kristina, and Matthew Vorwald; Nichole, Rebecca, Kaitlyn, and Joseph Clemen; Dominic, B’Elanna, and Remy Trowbridge; and Lucy, Henry, and Patrick Wilhelm; 4 great grandchildren, with another 2 expected in May; siblings: Rosemary (Robert) Lahr of Manchester, IA, William “Bill” (Mary Lou) March, of Hopkinton, IA, Jean Harbaugh of Tucson, AZ, Joan (William) Lansing of Worthington, IA, Joyce (Ronald) Dudley, of Anchorage, AK, John “Jack” (Mary Pat) March of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Dean March, of Dubuque, IA, David (Claudia) March of Balltown, IA, Donald (Carol) March of Dubuque, IA, Walter (Dianne) March of Worthington, IA, and Pam Pasker of Tucson, AZ; In-laws: James (Norma) Wilhelm, Tom (Judy) Wilhelm, Mary Ann Nachtmann, and Charles (Donna) Wilhelm, all of Dyersville, IA, and Jean (Gerald) Conrad of Epworth, IA, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers-in-law: Norbert Nachtmann, William Willenbring, and Lyle Harbaugh, and sister-in-law, Betty March. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com. The family would like to thank the staff at Helping Hands, Mercy Medical Centers in Dubuque and Dyersville, and Hospice of Dubuque for their wonderful care.