Rolland Wilhelm
July 13, 1943 ~ February 5, 2007
Rolland C. “Rollie” Wilhelm died Monday, February 05, 2007 at his home in Faulkton after a long battle with cancer.
Funeral Services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 9, 2007 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Mike Ward officiating. Burial was at the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation was from 1:00 to 5:00 Thursday, February 8th at the Luce Funeral Home followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the United Church of Faulkton.
Born to Clayton and Altha (Schilter) Wilhelm July 13, 1943 he farmed and ranched all his life in Faulk County. He attended grade school at Sunshine School in Centerville Township. Rolland graduated from Faulkton High School in 1961 where he was active in FFA. He seeded his first crop in 1958 with his father teaching him. Following his father’s death in 1961, he began farming on his own at the age of 17. He raised cattle, hogs, and sheep over the years.
He married Pat Pautsch on June 23, 1973 at Zion Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota. They lived on the farm where he had lived since birth until moving to Faulkton in October of 2004. The couple had two sons, Clayton John, born February 12, 1976 and Ryan Christopher, born October 9, 1979.
Rolland always had an interest in antique tractors, machinery and steam engines. He was a member of the James Valley Threshers Association and enjoyed steam shows. Black powder was another interest and Rolland liked shooting and reading about these antique firearms. He enjoyed trips to Sioux Falls to visit Clay and Holly. He also liked to find reasons to go to Aberdeen and have lunch with Ryan and Pat when she was working there.
Rolland took great pride in his two sons and their accomplishments and left them many instructions for continuing to run the farm. He loved to tease daughter-in-law, Holly, and share some of his unique recipes with her. He always loved dogs which included his faithful companion, Pepper, from 1990 to 2005 and more recently his Old English Bulldog, Taffy.
A member of the United Church of Faulkton, he was currently serving on the Board of Trustees. Rolland was also a member of the Yelduz Shrine, Faulkton Masonic Lodge #95 where he was a Past Master and was a member of Faulkton Chapter #69 of the Order of Eastern Star. He served on the Miranda Farmers Elevator Board of Directors for many years and was on the Centerville Township Board until moving to Faulkton.
He is survived by his wife, Pat, of Faulkton; sons, Clay (Holly) Wilhelm, Sioux Falls and Ryan Wilhelm, Aberdeen; mother, Altha Stammer, Faulkton; sister June Anderson, Dixon, CA, brother Jack (Rita) Wilhelm, Rockham, one aunt, two uncles and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clayton, in 1961, maternal grandparents, Herman and Dora Schilter and paternal grandparents, Jack and Hannah Wilhelm; his mother-in-law, Lena Gebhardt in 2002; and father-in-law, Clarence Gebhardt in 2003.
Pall bearers will be Harold Hadrick, Bob Hadrick, John Riley, Jerry Fischer, Stanley McCloud, Jeff McCloud, Dennis Mutsch, and Glenn Bode. Honorary pall bearers will be all of his many friends and neighbors.
Rolland will be eulogized by John Riley. Music will be provided by Cheryl Bowar, organist and Joel Melius, soloist. Ushers for the service will be Bob Cooper and Richard Carr.
Memorials can be directed to the United Church of Faulkton or the Faulk County Chapter Cancer Society.
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Pat, Clay, & Ryan
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sadness.
Clay and Holly and family,
I am so sorry to for your loss. I will be praying for your family during this time. I pray that you will find God’s peace and comfort through this time.
Carrie
Clay, Holly, Pat and Ryan,
Please accept our deepest sympathies on your loss. Our thoughts are with you in this difficult time.
Chris and Jean
Clay, Holly, Ryan and Pat – Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on the loss of your father and husband. I am grateful that I got to know Rolly over the past couple of years during or pheasant hunts and painting trip. I will miss seeing him drive up to the farm in his van.
Our Sympathies, Tim, Jen and Makayla
Good bye old friend.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you during these sad times.
Ryan – So sorry that you have to experience something as painful as this. We will be thinking about you. God bless you and your family.
Ryan – We are deeply sorry for your loss. We want you to know that your family will in our thoughts and prayers. If there’s anything we can do for you or your family, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’re here for you.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers!
God Bless!
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. May God Bless you, walk with you and hold you in the palm of his hand during this time of grief and loss.
Clay, Holly, Pat & Ryan: We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Dear Holly, Clay, and the extended Wilhelm Family,
We are thinking of you through this hard time.
Sincerely,
Ben, Kris, and Charlie
Hey everyone, my mom just told me. You are all in our prayers, and if anyone can make it through this, you all can. It’s been a tough few years, but hopefully you find comfort knowing that Uncle Rollie isn’t suffering anymore. I know God will help you through this.
Praying for you!
~Brittany
Hi Ryan,
Just wanted to send you a little hello to let you know that I’m praying for you and your family at this awful time. I wanted you to know that there are people who can understand what this is like for you, at our age and not living at home anymore. It’s been almost a year since my dad died of cancer too (Feb 20) and I hope it will help you to know that I can promise you that it really will be OK. Different, but OK. Mostly because I know, and I hope you know, our dads aren’t suffering anymore. When I used to wish he’d get better, and when I accepted that it wasn’t going to happen, I wished for the next best thing. Now I remember him the way he was and believe that’s the way he IS. And although I understand some of what you are going through right now and have yet to go through, it’s different for everybody, especially that it’s different when it’s father/son. So I thought maybe if you ever wanted someone to talk to who REALLY understands, my brother sure would and he wouldn’t be troubled at all to be there for you. You’d probably be helping each other:) His cell is 228-4753.
Jessi Mather
I was very sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts are with you.
I would like to give my condolences to Pat, Clay, and Ryan. Rolland was such a strong person and a good man. It is a blessing that he will not suffer anymore. My prayers are with you as you start to mourn the loss of your husband and father.
Much love,
Sarah & Daniel Griffin
Pat, Clay, Holly & Ryan – We are sorry for your loss. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Pat, we can’t imagine how heavy your heart must be at this time of loss. Just know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless!!!
To the Wilhelm Family
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy and condolences and know that you are in my heart and thoughts. I pray that you will take comfort from each other and from your faith in the Lord.
Take care of each other,
Marjorie Paddock
To uncle Rolland, I will miss our talks and visits greatly, you have given me great advise and lessons over the years but most of all I will miss hearing your “Big O” and “Oscar” calls to me; may you rest in peace with no more suffering and pain. Faulkton will not be the same without you.
Pat, I am so sorry for your loss and please know that I am here for you if you need anything.
Clay/Ryan, I unfortunately know first hand how hard this loss will be for you and I am sorry you have to take this journey. Have comfort in knowing that your dad was VERY proud of both of you and your accomplishments in life and he will always be a part of you.
Please take care of yourselves and Grandma. I am so sorry and I wish I could make the trip to be there with you all this week but Mom and Chris will have to represent for me. I will be there in spirit, thought and prayer and will see you all very soon.
Love, Stacy (Kenn and Erica)
We are so sorry to hear of Rollie’s passing. Our thoughts are with you.
Dear Pat,
I don’t know if you remember me. I am Catherine Schilder’s daughter and attented school with Rolland. We were in grades 1-8 together at the Sunshine School and then attended Faulkton High School together. Rolland was a special person to me as we shared so many school memories.
Please accept my sympathy for you and your family at this time. I know you have many special memories of your time together.
God Bless You, Sharen
I just heard. Our thoughts are with you. May he rest in peace.
Dear Pat, Altha, June & Jack:
Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of all of you. I usually saw Rolland when I visited my Mom as he, Sharen and I attended grades 1-12 together. We always talked about our childhood, school days etc. May God be with you.
Dear Pat, Altha, June & Jack:
Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of all of you. I usually saw Rolland when I visited my Mom as he, Sharen and I attended grades 1-12 together. We always talked about our childhood, school days etc. May God be with you.