Willie B. Lohrmann

William Bernhardt, son of Louis Henry and Minnie (Tollgaard) Lohrmann, was born July 2, 1911 near Vail, Iowa. He attended rural school East Boyer #9 through 8th grade and then worked full-time farming with his father. On August 2, 1933 Willie was united in marriage with Edna Ann Brus at Denison. They were the parents of three children. Willie and Edna lived near Vail when they were first married and then moved to a farm near Buck Grove. From there the family moved to a farm north of Manilla for 25 years before purchasing their own farm on the black-top road to Denison in 1952. In October of 1982 Willie and Edna moved to their home in Manilla. He remained active well into his 80's helping his son and sons-in-law in their farming operations. Willie was a member and elder of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla where he was baptized and confirmed in his youth. He was a long-time Farm Bureau member and director of Nishnabotna #2 country school where his children attended. Willie was known to whistle a tune while he worked on the farm and tell stories about farming with a mule team in the early days. Willie was Edna's devoted caregiver until she moved to Eventide Nursing Home in January of 2007. He followed her there in November of the same year. Following hip surgery, Willie's health failed and he died at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison on Thursday, August 26, 2010. He was 99 years, 1 month and 24 days of age. Preceding him in death are his parents; daughter-in-law Dorothy Lohrmann; grandson James Lohrmann; and sisters Glennie Young, Mabel Lohrmann and Evelyn (in infancy). Willie is survived by his wife Edna Lohrmann of Denison; three children: Robert Lohrmann of Manilla; Sylvia and husband Dick Saunders of Manilla; and Ron and wife Gloria of Denison; six grandchildren: Jean Bohnker (John), Sara Isaacson (Dean), Robert Saunders (Lisa), Darcy Dammann, Rick Lohrmann (Shari), and Michael Lohrmann; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Elvera Brus of Denison and Marie Brus of Manilla; other relatives and friends. REVEREND ROSS MICHAEL FRITZ, OFFICIATING Music "WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS" "PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND" "ROCK OF AGES" "HOW GREAT THOU ART" SUSAN LAMB, ORGANIST Casket Bearers RICK LOHRMANN ROBERT SAUNDERS BRETT SAUNDERS SCOTT SAUNDERS TOM SAUNDERS NICK DAMMANN TYLER LOHRMANN Honorary Casket Bearers JEAN BOHNKER SARA ISAACSON DARCY DAMMANN MICHAEL LOHRMANN