Wilmer O. Ekholm

Wilmer Oscar Ekholm, 95, passed away on Tuesday, January 15, 2013. He was born on September 3, 1917, on the family farm south of Windom and lived on the same farm until age 94. He was the son of Frans Oscar and Lillie Josephine (Peterson) Ekholm. He was a farmer and stockman throughout his life.

On March 24, 1946, Wilmer was united in marriage to Hazel I. Slabach in Hutchinson, KS.

Wilmer was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Frances Troyer, Bertha Birkes, and Amy Anderson, niece, Dorothy (Birkes) Clark, and nephews, Gary Birkes and Russell Troyer.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel Ekholm of Hutchinson, KS; sister, Hazel Raleigh of Rockford, IL; three nieces, Renee Raleigh of Rockford, IL, Gwen Oleen (Glenn) of Falun, KS, and Judy Clark (Preston) of Hutchinson, KS; three nephews, Richard Birkes (Mae) of McPherson, KS, Robert Raleigh, Jr. (Cindy) of Rockford, IL, and Rick Raleigh (Pam) of Kaukauna, WI; sisters-in-law & brothers-in-law, Marjorie and Wayne Goertzen of Buhler, KS, Lois Slabach of Clearwater, KS, and Steve Barcus of Wichita, KS; and many relatives and friends.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 PM, Saturday, January 19, 2013, at the Andover Lutheran Church, rural Windom, with Rev. Thomas Hallowell officiating. The family will receive friends from noon until service time on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in the Andover Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be given to Andover Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund or Hospice and Homecare of Reno County in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Wilmer O. Ekholm please visit our Sympathy Store.