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Visitation:
4:00-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at
St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln
Service:
10 a.m. Thursday at the church
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
Lawrence (Larry) Russell Wilham, 85,
of rural Lincoln, passed peacefully from this life
at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at St.
John’s Hospital surrounded by his family.
Lawrence was born on April 21, 1933, a son of
Lawrence, Sr., and Viola (Munyon) Wilham.
Lawrence was born in Elkhart Township and remained
committed to preserving and maintaining local
farmland throughout the remainder of his life. He
graduated from Elkhart High School in 1951. He
married his bride, Selma Sigrist on March 1, 1958.
Their 60th anniversary in 2018 was a special
milestone that both Larry and Selma joyously
celebrated with their children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren. Larry and Selma became the
proud parents of Kathy Mae (Maske) and Kevin Russell
Wilham (wife Kathy).
Larry and Selma spent their married life farming
local land and raising livestock. Eventually their
partnership developed into a woodworking business,
“The Kindling Box”, that expanded beyond Larry’s
“tinkering” in the woodshop. Together they crafted
and sold products at local craft shows throughout
Illinois including nearly 30 years as a vendor at
“Christmas on Vinegar Hill”. He loved his woodshop
and the possibilities that existed in every piece of
wood he cut and the conversations and friendships
that emerged when someone asked him about his work.
In more recent years, Larry’s carvings became a
mainstay of their business. His creations ranged
from the serious to the quirky but always started
with an “ol’ block of wood.” Larry would often say,
“I’m just an old woodcarver,” but that aspect of his
life brought him great joy. His creativity, humor,
and love of history lives on in the homes of
customers who bought his works over the years.
Larry loved the simple pleasure of enjoying the
company of family and friends. He never knew a
stranger and loved to share a simple cup of coffee
with anyone who would sit and listen to his stories.
He had a fondness for antique tractors and steam
engines and enjoyed spending time at shows
reminiscing about days gone by. His family knew him
as a master fire builder, always up for impromptu
wiener roast parties with family and friends along
the banks of his beloved Salt Creek. |
He found great pleasure in fishing
from its banks and driving around in his pick-up to
check the water levels. He was a jokester and a
storyteller who loved to tease and entertain his
grandchildren and great-grandchildren relating his
mischievous antics of boyhood as if they had just
happened yesterday. He dearly loved family
gatherings and eagerly anticipated the arrival of
family and friends to share good food around the
dining room table.
Larry served in the United States army, leaving the
family farm after being drafted in 1953. He served
in Germany during the Korean War, and although he
downplayed his service compared to fellow soldiers
serving in Korea at the time, his family admired him
for answering his country’s call to serve. He was a
member of American Legion Post 447 of Mount Pulaski.
He also served as a school board member for Elkhart
Public Schools and as a trustee for the Broadwell
Drainage District.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death
by three sisters and their spouses, Norma (Paul)
Stewart, Louise (Rudy) Baumhardt, and Ethel (Ben)
Spann as well as brothers-in law Albert, Robert, and
Dallas Sigrist.
In addition to his wife and children, he is survived
by his grandchildren Katie (Carl) Florczyk of
Breese, Sally (Alex) Norton of Daphne, Alabama,
Thomas (Emily) Maske of Granger, Indiana, Kelsey (fiance,
Noah Lindsay) Wilham of Morton and Kourtney Wilham
of Mount Pulaski, He also leaves behind seven sweet
great-granddaughters: Anna and Elyse Florczyk, Julia
and Reese Norton, and Eva, Ella, and Molly Maske.
Also surviving are his sisters-in law, Janice
Torbeck, Carolyn Sigrist, Juanita Sigrist, and Pearl
Sigrist, and his many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Services for Larry will be held at 10:00a.m. on
Thursday, February 14, 2019 at St. John United
Church of Christ in Lincoln. Graveside service will
be at 1:30 p.m. at Steenbergen Cemetery in Mount
Pulaski. Visitation will take place from 4:00-6:00
p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 also at the
church.
Memorial donations may be made in Larry’s name to
St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln or Zion
Lutheran School, Mount Pulaski.
Services have been entrusted to
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln.
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