A memorial service for Janet Kay Wilhelm, 92, will be held at 3:00 P.M. Thursday, June 24, 2021 at the All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Wheatland, Wyoming with The Reverend Lori Modesitt and The Reverend Jill Zimmerschied officiating. Inurnment will be held at the All Saints’ Episcopal Church columbarium.
Janet Wilhelm passed away on the evening of Sunday, January 3, 2021 at her home in Wheatland surrounded by her family.
She was born on Saturday, December 15, 1928 in Cheyenne, Wyoming the daughter of Laurance and Kathryn (Newland) Belt. She grew up in Wheatland, graduating from Wheatland High School in 1946. She later attended both Casper College in Casper, Wyoming and the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming.
She married John Wilhelm in July of 1949 and moved to her home, what is now Oak Road in 1952.
In addition to being a mother and farm wife, she was regularly employed for more than 60 years beginning in 1942 as a ticket taker for the local theater and a printer’s devil in her father’s print shop. She clerked at one of the local drug stores, was employed at the local dairy, ran the cream station, and worked at the extension office. She was a skilled typist and completed drafts for two books written by local author Rachel Fish. She moved onto working for the school district in the business office, later with C.H. Brown Company, and then the local mortuary. She provided day-care for her grandson, John, concluding her working career with a stint at the local long-term care ombudsmen office.
She was an accomplished pianist giving lessons to numerous novice musicians over the years. She played the organ at the Episcopal church for years and enjoyed singing in the church choir and playing in the bell choir, also. She served on the church vestry for some time and spent two terms as a member of the Platte County Library Board. She was an avid theater goer and took numerous trips to the Opera House in Central City. She also appeared in local productions including the Steel Magnolias and Becket, the latter performed in the Episcopal Church.
She was preceded in death by her father, Laurance in 1969; mother, Kathryn in 1989; brother, James in 1993; husband, John in 2008; and her son, Jamie, in 2019.
She is survived by her son, Jeff (Molly) Wilhelm; daughter, Jean (Wade) Mitchell all of Wheatland; four grandchildren, Paula Wilhelm (Dan Lange) of Oakland, California, John Wilhelm of Laramie, Brandon (Mallory) Wilhelm of Gig Harbor, Washington, and Janna (Billy) Santangelo of Thousand Oaks, California; four great grandchildren, Will and Jace Santangelo and Rollie and Gene Wilhelm; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Wilhelm of Thousand Oaks; plus, a number of nieces and nephews.
A memorial to the All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 605 Eleventh Street, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201 or to the Platte County Library, 904 Ninth Street, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201 would be appreciated by the family.
Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland are in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.gormanfh.com
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