Wilma N. Rothlisberger

Wilma N. Rothlisberger, 91, of Elgin, passed away Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at Stoney Brook Village in West Union.

Wilma Nell, the daughter of Charles Henry and Nellie E. (Rea) Meisenheimer, was born Nov. 28, 1921, in rural Yuma, Beaver County, Okla. She was baptized and confirmed in the Albert, Kan., United Methodist Church in 1932. Wilma graduated with the class of 1941 from Cheney High School in Cheney, Kan. She completed a course of study in practical nursing from a National Defense School shortly after her high school graduation. Wilma was united in marriage with Walter LeRoy Rothlisberger on July 18, 1942, in Wichita, Kan. To this union six children were born: Sharnel, Janet Kay, Robert LeRoy, William Dean, John Charles, and Kim Walter Rothlisberger. The family lived in Wichita for nine years while Roy worked for the Boeing Airplane Co. They moved to Iowa in 1951 and started farming near Volga. In 1953, the family moved to their farm on Highway 56 near the Illyria Community Church, where Wilma was a member until her passing.

Wilma worked for five years as a secretary at Palmer Memorial Hospital in West Union starting in 1961. She began working for Valley Community Schools in 1966 and completed her career as the superintendent’s secretary when she retired in 1983 at the age of 62.

Wilma enjoyed gardening, sewing, and her work in the Illyria Community Church.

Wilma is survived by her children, Sharnel (Roger) Frieden of Elgin, Janet (Courtney) Stahr of West Union, Robert (Judy) Rothlisberger of West Union, John (Jani) Rothlisberger of Fredericksburg, Iowa, and Kim (Kathleen) Rothlisberger of LeClaire, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Betty Roberts of Belton, Texas; two brothers, Mr. Lester (Phyllis) Meisenheimer of Laguna Hills, Calif., and Mr. Dean Meisenheimer of Aurora, Colo. and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Coranel Frieden of Waverly.

Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; their infant son, William Dean; her parents, Charlie and Nellie Meisenheimer; three sisters, Edna, Lois, and Delores; and three brothers, Donald, Vernon, and Eddie.

Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Elgin and one hour before services at the church on Friday. Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at Illyria Community Church, rural Elgin, with the Rev. Rick Johnson as officiant. Interment will follow at Illyria Cemetery, rural Elgin. Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service is helping the family with arrangements.

Condolences may be left with www.graufuneralhomes.com

Published Jan. 24, 2013 in The Gazette