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Carroll "Lee" Wilhelm was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on November 25, 1939, to Harold and Elmira (Palm) Wilhelm. He graduated from Ephrata Union High School in 1957. Lee worked for an ice cream store and then as a brick layer for about a year and a half.

He then enlisted in the United States Air Force and retired as a Master Sergeant after more than twenty years of service. Duty assignments led him to Ohio, the Azores, Indiana, England, Spain, Missouri, Germany, Libya, Maryland and Nebraska. He served in support of the Worldwide Airborne Command Post from 1962 until his retirement in 1980.

In August of 1966 he married Joyce Binner in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, and born to this union were two children, Brent and Angela. He and Joyce divorced in 1981.

On Christmas Eve of 1981, he married Pamela Kay (Pipher) Shumake secretly in Tekamah, Nebraska. Pam announced to her family, gathered to celebrate Christmas Eve, that her gift to the family was a new member!

Lee was employed by MCI Telecommunications which became Worldcom, long distance telephone carrier from 1981 until his retirement. Then he worked part time for Carter Place assisted living and River Wilds Golf Course, both in Blair. Lee was active member of Blair First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed meeting and greeting folks as an usher for many years. He was a member of Methodist Men who fundraised for scholarships for kids to go to Camp Fontanelle in the summer. They also had a bowling team called Blair United Methodist Men (BUMMs). From 1990 until 2007 his official title was "Assistant Janitor by marriage"- helping Pam who was the real janitor at the church. He made his old garage into a shop and started woodworking. He made weathered wood benches, chairs, stools, frames and things for Pam to decorate or paint on for their small craft business.

Carroll "Lee" Wilhelm, age 86, passed away Friday, February 6, 2026, in Blair. Memorial services will be held at a later date at First United Methodist Church in Blair.

He leaves his wife Pam; son and wife, Brent and Jonni Sue Wilhelm of Salisbury, Maryland, his daughter and husband Angela and Dave Shrewsberry of Bel Air, Maryland, stepson and wife, Steve and Lynn Shumake of Lincoln, Nebraska, stepdaughter Lisa and Dr. Wayne Boillat of Glencoe, Missouri; sister-in-law Arlene Wilhelm of Lititz, Pennsylvania, sister and husband Zani and Jeff Levering of Nashville, Tennessee, brother-in-law and wife Drs. Jim and Mary Pipher of Lincoln, Nebraska; grandchildren: Carmen Fister (Levi) Aubrey Shumake, Ben and Sarah (Wilhelm) Terzich, Drs. Kyle and Rachel (Boillat) Newport, Natalie and Julia Shrewsberry, Kyle Boillat; and great- grandchildren: Ezekial and Raelyn Terzich; nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Terry Wilhelm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church in Blair.

Services by Campbell Aman Funeral Home, Blair, NE.

~~~obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave #292652897