Lawrence Andrew "Pud" Wilhelm, 82, of Custar, Ohio, died Tuesday morning, October 20, 2009 at
his residence.
He was born May 13, 1927 in Milton Township, Wood County, Ohio to the late John W. and Mary (Baumbarger)
Wilhelm. On June 5, 1948 he married Helen E. Bechstein at St. Louis Catholic Church, Custar.
Pud was a lifelong farmer in Milton Township, a lifetime member of St. Louis Catholic Church and member
of the Ohio Farmers Union.
He loved his family and always enjoyed the many get togethers. Pud also enjoyed many fall trips to the
Soo Locks in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan and winter travels in Florida.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Helen; two daughters, Shirley (Tim) Mercer and Sarah (Steve)
Instone, both of Bowling Green, Ohio; two sons, Stephen (Darlene) Wilhelm and Stanley (Lisa) Wilhelm,
both of Custar; 12 grandchildren, Chellie (Shawn) Davies, Michael Mercer, Matthew Mercer, Elizabeth
Instone, Jessie Instone, Erin (Shawn) Shaffer, Megan (Kyle) McKenzie, Allison (Michael) Betz, Katie
(Robert) Mahlman, Melissa Wilhelm, Andrew Wilhelm and Benjamin Wilhelm; 9 great-grandchildren, Ethan and
Kendall Davies, MacKenzie, Tyler, Tanner and Trever Shaffer, Hannah and Haylee Betz and Wyatt McKenzie;
three sisters, Clara Lance, Bowling Green; Mary (John) Phillips, Kalida, Ohio and Martha Phillips,
Perrysburg, Ohio; two sisters-in-law, Marge Wilhelm, formerly of Findlay, Ohio and Mary Jane Wilhelm,
Leipsic, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Bernard, Paul and Harold Wilhelm; two sisters, Lucy Bechstein
and Hilda Courtney; half sister, Dolores Schneider; sister-in-law, Wilma Wilhelm and two
brothers-in-law, Cloyce Lance and Ira Bechstein.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Custar,
with Fr. Jeff Nordhaus officiating. Burial will be in St. Louis Catholic Cemetery and a luncheon will
follow in the St. Louis School Basement.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday at Rodenberger Funeral Home, Deshler, where
a scripture service will be held at 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Visitation will also be from 10 to 11
a.m. on Friday prior to the mass in the church.
The family suggests memorials to St. Louis Catholic Church, St. Louis Catholic School or Southern Care
Hospice.
Online condolences can be made at www.rodenbergerfuneralhome.com.