Obituaries : Edward L. “Ed” Wilhelm

Edward L. “Ed” Wilhelmi, 96, passed away at the Vinton Lutheran Home on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, May 4, 2026, at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Atkins with Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating. Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday, May 3, 2026, also at the church sanctuary in Atkins.  Interment with Military Rites will be held at St. Stephen’s Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Central Lutheran School, the Vinton Lutheran Home, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Ed was born on December 23, 1929, to Karl and Laura (Rammelsberg) Wilhelmi. He graduated from Atkins High School in 1947. Ed served his Country in the United States Air Force from 1949 until his discharge in 1951.  Ed was united in marriage to LaVonne “Vonnie” Wiebold on October 29, 1950, at Grace Lutheran Church in Blairstown.  They celebrated their 75^th wedding anniversary this past October.

Ed and Vonnie farmed most of their life together.  He also fed and sold fat cattle to H.D. Copeland in Peoria, IL and topped the market many times throughout his career.  A longtime member of the 2 Cylinder Club, Ed collected and restored 2-cylinder tractors and implements.  He participated in the WMT Tractorcade for 19 years.  Ed also sold Pioneer seed for many years and was featured in a number of farm magazines in celebration of Pioneer’s 100^th anniversary.  Ed was a member of the Benton County and State REC boards. He was a trustee at St. Stephen’s 
Lutheran Church, and also a member of the Atkins American Legion. 

Ed is survived by his wife, Vonnie; his children, Edward K. (Nancy) Wilhelmi of Atkins, Vicki (Garth) Gardemann of Vinton, Donald J. (Nancy) Wilhelmi of Atkins, and Ronald R. (Mary) Wilhelmi of Atkins; 10 grandchildren, Deb (Marty) Gorkow, Kathy (Peter) Wiklund, Tami Junge, Lori (Chris) Mott, Larry (Becky) Gardemann, Denny (Molly) Gardemann, Miranda (Dylan) Schmid, Paul (Johnette) Wilhelmi, Greg (Amy) Wilhelmi and Crystal (Jacob) Schaefer. Along with 26 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. 

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, grandson-in-law Nathan Junge; and 2 sisters, Mary Ann Kreutner, and Lenore Pohlman.

Online Condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com