Lavinia "Vee" F. Wilhelms Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Lavinia Frances Wilhelms was born to Frank and Ada (Stancombe) Abberton on December 28, 1923 at Sydney, Australia. She passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at Hebron, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 10 months, and 8 days. She was the oldest of two daughters in the family. Vee, as she was affectionately known, was baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sydney in 1924. She made her first Holy Communion on June 11, 1934 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brisbane, Australia. Her schooling was at St. Joseph Convent and East Brisbane Finishing School. She was confirmed in February of 1945 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brisbane, Australia by Pastor Theo Reimers. Even though Vee had vowed that she would never marry an American, she met and began dating a young serviceman, Eilert Wilhelms, of Bruning, Nebraska. They were married on March 17, 1945 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brisbane, Australia, also by Pastor Theo Reimers. The couple adopted and raised two children, Robert and Patti. When the war ended, Eilert had to return to the United States before his bride was permitted to come. Vee set off on the journey to her new home by herself. She sailed aboard the U.S. Mariposa from Brisbane to the U.S. on April 11, 1946, arriving in Bruning on April 30, 1946. When the war brides arrived in San Francisco, they boarded a train. When the train reached Denver, one of the brides whom she had met, had no one there to meet her. Vee said, "If that happens to me, I will be returning home." Eilert did meet her at Fairmont, and they drove to their new home. When they went through Bruning, Eilert said, “This is Bruning,” and Vee asked, “Where is it?” Bruning has been her home ever since. Her parents came for a visit to Bruning and stayed for a year from March 1953 to March 1954. Vee took her Citizenship Exam in Lincoln, Nebraska in July of 1953 and became a U.S. citizen in August of 1953. She was very proud of this accomplishment. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, Trinity Lutheran Women, and Circle II. Vee was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Ada; her husband Eilert; granddaughter Jamie Korbelik Gibson; sister Joyce and husband Lenny; Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Virgil and wife Ardath Wilhelms and Darlene Norder and husband Arnold. She is survived by her son Robert and wife Laura Wilhelms of Arvada, Colorado; daughter Patti Witters of Lincoln, Nebraska; grandchildren Bryan, Laura, Brandon, Jessica, Jennifer, Lindsey, and Leslie; 12 great grandchildren; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Alton and Ardis Wilhelms of Lincoln, Nebraska; and by nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral services for Vee were held on Monday, November 11, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Bruning, Nebraska. Pastor Stuart Sell officiated the service. Janice Fintel accompanied the congregation in the singing of “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Beautiful Savior.” Pallbearers for the service included Tony Norder, Brad Dowdy, Regg Carnes, Neil Carnes, Terry Bowman, and Gary Wagner. Honorary bearers were Dale Remmers, Dean Dirks, Kurt Philippi, Duane Hume, Lowell Schweer, Jr., and Fred Kobza. Interment was held in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Farmer & Son Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Memorials are directed to the Nebraska Children’s Home in Omaha, 3549 Fontenelle Blvd, Omaha, NE 68137.

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Lavinia "Vee" F. Wilhelms

December 28, 1923 - November 6, 2013