Arlene Marion (Hass) Wilharms (88 years-old) of Merrill, Wisconsin passed away in her sleep early morning on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024. She was on hospice and in the care of her family so she could stay living on her farm.
Arlene graduated from Merrill High School in 1954. A couple weeks later, she married her late husband, Henry Wilharms (July 25th, 1929 – December 18th, 2009), on June 19th, and has been on the farm since.
Honeysuckle Lane Farm had been proof of Arlene’s hard work with her husband. Together, Henry and Arlene were able to start a registered herd of Holsteins. Arlene was very proud of that. Her first registered calves – six young heifers – were brought home in their station wagon.
Some of the duties Arlene did include feeding the family and hired hands (most of the fixings from scratch), milking cows, mowing hay, canning, sewing, raising four children, housework, and helping with Deer Run Estates as co-owner.
Arlene lived in Merrill her whole life, having been born in Lincoln County on July 28th, 1936. She chose to live there because everything she loved was close, and being on a farm was important to her. Arlene always spoke well when asked about her farming days. As a young girl, Arlene enjoyed helping her father on their dairy farm. . . except when it came to picking rocks. (She was thankful her husband’s family farm had less rocks to pick than her father’s.) If asked, Arlene would say, “If they couldn’t find me, they just had to check in the calf pen. I’d usually be in there teaching the calves how to drink their water.” Arlene loved animals, but her favorites were cattle and dogs. However, she enjoyed the company of her cat, Tuff, because she knew how good of a boy he was in the house.
In Arlene’s younger days, she was a Valpo Mom. She was also a 4-H leader when her grandkids began in 4-H. Arlene was very faithful with helping her grandkids wash calves at the Lincoln County Fair when they showed dairy, and one day when she got home, she had to explain her appearance being from kids at the fair having a little too much fun getting “Grandma” wet.
Arlene enjoyed baking, crafts, and nativity sets. She liked to listen to Christian music on the radio and tell stories.
Many memories were shared with Arlene we all will be sure to cherish. Beyond anything, I think most of us will remember she’s a tough farm lady, mother, and grandmother.
Arlene was preceded in death by her father, Arnold Hass; her mother, Ella (Burmeister) Hass; her husband, Henry Wilharms; her oldest son, Henry Junior Wilharms; her daughter-in-law, Karen (Sommers) Wilharms; and grandson, Kody Wilharms.
Living family members include: her sisters – Lorna Sellin of Wausau, Wisconsin and Avila (Jerry) Zabawa of Madison, Wisconsin; her children – David (Mary) Wilharms of Wausau, Wisconsin, Donna (Timothy) Barkley of Merrill, Wisconsin, and William (Karmen) Wilharms of Onsted, Michigan; her grandchildren – Jim (Linda) Druetzler, Shari Druetzler, Michael (Kirsten) Lynch, Heidi Murphy, Jacob (Jessica) Wilharms, Amanda Barkley, Joseph (Randi) Barkley, Whitney Wilharms, Matthew Wilharms, and Karoline Wilharms; and 7 great grandchildren – Tim, Tonya, Hannah, Cheyenne, Jocelyn, Henry, and Jade.
The funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at St. Stephens United Church of Christ, Merrill. The Rev. Michael Southcombe will officiate. The burial will follow in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and again after 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at the church.
The family of Arlene would like to thank nurse Brittany from Interim Healthcare Hospice.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com