Virginia M. Wilhelm, 74, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday, January 4, 2001, at the Hiawatha Community Hospital in Hiawatha.

She was born February 27, 1926, in Kelly, KS, the daughter of Joseph B. and Gertrude Waller Lehmkuhl. She attended St. Augustine’s School in Fidelity and later the Oak Grove School east of Seneca.

On January 3, 1945, she married Lester Wilhelm at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Lester, her husband of 56 years, survives of Seneca. They lived south of Seneca most of their married life. She was a homemaker, worked at the Gilford Hotel in Seneca for 10 years, cooked at the Prairie Lounge in Seneca for a number of years, and also cared for elderly people in their homes.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church, the Loyal Christian Benevolent Association, the Nemaha County Historical Society, where she was a former board member, all in Seneca. She volunteered her services at the Mission Center, also in Seneca.

Survivors beside her husband are four sons, Wayne Wilhelm of Junction City, KS, Bob Wilhelm of Topeka, Dale Wilhelm of Seneca, and Tom Wilhelm of Hiawatha; a daughter, Charlene Collom of Topeka; a brother, Kenneth Lehmkuhl of Seneca; two sisters, Mildred Hermesch of Seneca and Jeanette Barkley of Uhrichsville, OH; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a grandchild, Lori Collom on January 19, 1998; three brothers, Kenneth, Donald and Elmer Lehmkuhl; and two sisters, Delores Haler and Jane Gay.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Saturday, with a vigil prayer service at 7 PM Sunday, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School or for the Mission Center, both in Seneca, and sent in care of the family.