E. Bohl

E. Wilma Bohl was born in Wausau, Wisconsin on May 14, 1918, and died in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 31, 2016. She was the third of seven children born to Carl and Clara Behnke and was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wausau.

Largely ignoring her father's early advice to "slow down, Wilma!" she led an energetic life dedicated to family, friends, and community.

After Wilma graduated from Wausau High School, she became a secretary-stenographer at Wausau Motor Parts Company and later at the American Red Cross in Alexandria, Virginia, and later still at Lutheran Social Services and ManPower in Madison.

Upon her marriage to her classmate, Raymond H. Bohl on August 30, 1941, and after their honeymoon at the Minnesota State Fair, she began her lifelong career as a wife and mother. When Ray enlisted and became an officer in the U. S. Army Air Corps at the start of WW II, Wilma followed to most of his assignments across the United States. Their moves in these years and throughout her life would eventually include twenty-three home addresses from coast to coast. All this moving kept her very well organized.

Wilma was dedicated to her two children, Dr. William (Bill), born in Palm Springs, California, and Mary Ellen, born in Wausau. As Ray's job assignments with Employer's Insurance of Wausau took them to new places including Dallas, Texas, and Madison, Milwaukee, and Wausau, Wilma created a welcoming home and made certain that Mary Ellen and Bill found new friends and adjusted to new schools.

Wherever she lived, she served. She was a volunteer with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and was a leader in the Mother's Club. She served as a Sunday school teacher in Dallas, Texas and in Waukesha, Madison, and Wausau. She was a Red Cross Volunteer in Milwaukee, and worked with autistic children in Elm Grove. In Wausau she was a member of Trinity Lutheran's Ladies' Aid, the Wausau Woman's Club, the Zion Lutheran sewing circle, and St. Mark's Bible Study. Wilma volunteered at Homme Home in Wittenberg and at Wausau Homes for the Aged and she encouraged her children to do likewise. When at home she dashed around the house, cooked, sorted, and cleaned.

As Ray advanced to a vice presidency at Employers, Wilma became a consummate hostess. It was always fun at the Bohl house. Wilma planned games, music, and food to keep everyone entertained. Her welcoming smile would light up a room. In later years after she moved to Raleigh, her smile and charm made new friends and continued to warm all whom she met.

Wilma embraced winter. At age 82 she gave up ice skating when her 60-year-old skates wore out. She shoveled many tons of snow from her driveways all across Wisconsin. When she moved to North Carolina in 2007, she left behind an array of shovels, brooms, and ice choppers, some with broken handles.

She enjoyed old movies, young children, and playing bridge. She liked to travel to new places and learn new things. But most of all, she liked doing whatever might include her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ray, her son Bill, two brothers Armin (Ethel) and Elroy (Barbara) Behnke, and three sisters Eleanore Behnke, Norrine (Art) Peters, and Valeria (Ira) McDonald. She is survived by her sister, Elaine (Ron) Strasser of Wausau, her daughter, Mary Ellen (Dr. Allen) Riordan, a grandson, James C. Riordan (Elizabeth Flick), and a great-grand daughter, Emily T. Riordan all of Raleigh, North Carolina, plus numerous nieces and nephews, their children and grandchildren.

A memorial service is to be held at Helke Funeral Home in Wausau on Saturday, April 23rd with visitation at 9:30 am and a service following at 10:00. Interment will be at Restlawn Memorial Park on Monday, April 25th at 9:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the building fund at St Mark's Lutheran Church in Wausau, or to a charity of your choice.