Selma Mae Wilham Obituary (1937 - 2021)

LINCOLN - Selma Mae Wilham, 84 of rural Lincoln, passed away on June 26, 2021, at Vonderlieth Living Center in Mt. Pulaski after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. Selma was born on March 29, 1937, in Marion County, Illinois, to Glenn John and Mae (Jasper) Sigrist. She married Lawrence Wilham on March 1, 1958. He preceded her in death on February 9, 2019. Lawrence and Selma were the parents of two children, Kathy Mae Maske of Mt. Pulaski, and Kevin Russell (Kathy) of Mt. Pulaski. Selma is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Katie Mae (Carl) Florczyk of Breese; Sally Jo (Alex) Norton of Daphne, AL; Thomas Michael (Emily) Maske of Granger, IN; Kelsey Elaine (Noah) Lindsay of Eureka; and Kourtney Rae Wilham of Mt. Pulaski. She also has 7 great-granddaughters: Anna Kate and Elyse Mae Florczyk; Julia Jo and Reese Catherine Norton; and Eva Ann, Ella Grace, and Molly Joy Maske. She was so proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spending time with them supporting them in all of their activities. In addition to her husband and parents, she was also proceeded in death by brothers Albert, Robert, and Dallas Sigrist, and sisters-in law Louise Baumhardt, Norma Stewart, and Ethel Spann. She is survived by sister Janice Torbeck and sisters-in-law Carolyn Sigrist, Juanita Sigrist, and Pearl Sigrist as well as many treasured nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Selma and Larry farmed for nearly 50 years in the Lincoln and Mt. Pulaski area. Selma was also a co-partner with Larry in the Kindling Box craft business. They enjoyed their travels around Central and Southern Illinois selling their crafts and meeting new friends. Many local homes display their collective handiwork. Selma served for many years on the Mt. Pulaski Christmas on Vinegar Hill planning committee and thoroughly enjoyed beginning the holiday season with that show each November. In addition to the crafting business, Selma was active at St. John United Church of Christ serving on numerous boards and committees. She was dedicated to the Bell and Chime Choirs for almost 40 years, retiring only recently when her illness made attendance too difficult. Selma had a particular love for music, beginning organ lessons when she was in in her 60's. She also loved to spin rolls on her player piano for her grandchildren and any visitors that came to her home. Selma heeded Christ's command in the Bible to serve her neighbor in any way she knew how. She was quick to make a meal for a funeral luncheon, call on shut-ins, or volunteer in service to others including being a faithful 14 gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross. She was a regular volunteer for Meals on Wheels of Logan County, faithfully serving for many years up to the time of her illness. She was active in the Home Extension program and a volunteer and supporter of Logan County 4-H for many years. Selma was a lover of nature. She was an avid flower and vegetable gardener achieving Master Gardener through the U of I Extension Service. She also loved birds and spent many hours tending to her bird feeders and birdhouses. In her final months of life, a great joy to Selma was visiting her "deer friends" during evening drives through Madigan Park looking for white-tailed deer. Her friends and family will remember her for her generous spirit, kind heart, and beautiful smile. She took pride in every job she did, big or small. While her entire life was filled with acts of kindness big and small, her greatest act of kindness occurred on June 28, 1999, when she donated a portion of her liver to her granddaughter Kourtney. At the time, they were the oldest-youngest living donor duo at St. Louis Children's/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Selma being 62 and Kourtney being only 7 months old. Selma eagerly anticipated celebrating the anniversary of the transplant each year with Kourtney. Gratitude was a central part of Selma's life. Up until her final days she was still thanking God, friends, and family for her blessings despite her illness. In this spirit, the Wilham family would like to extend warmest notes of gratitude to church members of St. John United Church of Christ, friends, neighbors, and community members. Selma received innumerable cards, phone calls, and in person visits which greatly enriched the last few months of her life. The calls from friends and neighbors lending a hand, a listening ear, or prayers following Selma's diagnosis will not be forgotten We would individually like to thank Selma's niece Sandra Wilmert for her coordination of these visits and constant presence. We would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Selma's hospice nurse Ashllee who became a very treasured and trusted friend to Selma in her last days. Selma would say that she lived a blessed life, but to those who knew her, we know that we were the ones truly blessed to love and be loved by her. Services for Selma will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln, IL, the graveside service will be at 2:00pm in Steenbergen Cemetery, Mt. Pulaski, IL. Visitation will take place from 4:00-6:00pm on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 also at the church. Memorial donations may be made in Selma's name to St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln or Zion Lutheran School, Mt. Pulaski. Services have been entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln.