Orene Hulda Wilhelm, 93, Princeton, MN, passed away Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at the Elim Care and Rehab Center, Princeton, MN.

Orene Zoellmer was born on February 28, 1917 to William and Sophia (Petrich) Zoellmer in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Orene’s father passed away when she was three years old. Her family kept the farm, but at times lived in Vernon Center and Mankato. She graduated from Garden City High School and took a business course at Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato.

For five years, Orene worked in Truman, MN. First she worked for a lawyer, then added weekend typing for an Equitable Life Assurance fieldman. She later started bookkeeping for the Ford dealer.

She then worked in the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC for three years, Pearl Harbor happened during that time. Orene first met Bernard at the Al Gebert home in Union, NJ, one Thanksgiving weekend. He was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, waiting for his ship to go to sea.

Orene’s next move was to the USDA field office in Milwaukee, WI, where she worked for two years. When the war ended and Bernard was discharged, they were married in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Vernon Center, MN. They farmed in the Princeton area. In 1968, they were part of a Goodwill People-to-People agricultural tour in six European countries.

Orene and Bernard had three sons: Paul (Marilyn) of Dannebrog, NE, Timothy (Sue) and Mark (Pam) of Princeton; eight grandchildren: Kim (Erick) Noack of Park City, KS, Nathan Wilhelm of St. Paul, NE, Hannah Wilhelm of Maple Grove, MN, Matthew (Alyssa) Wilhelm of Henderson, NV, Miriam Wilhelm of Minnetonka, MN, Natalie Wilhelm of Inver Grove Heights, MN, Michael Wilhelm and John Wilhelm of Princeton, MN; one great grandson: Eli Noack of Park City, KS. Her husband, Bernard, passed away in 1985.

For many years, Orene has enjoyed quilting for Lutheran World Relief, being a member of Ruth Circle and having coffee with her friends during fellowship hour. She also sang in the Immanuel Choir for 20 years.

Pall Bearers were: Kimberly (Wilhelm) Noack, Nathan Wilhelm, Hannah Wilhelm, Matthew Wilhelm, Miriam Wilhelm, Natalie Wilhelm, Michael Wilhelm and John Wilhelm. Honorary Pall Bearers were: Dianae Dobe, Mardell Doebler, Carolyn Stein, Elaine Legwold, Harriet Dahle and Mary Fredell.

Visitation: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Friday, July 30, 2010 at the church.

Service: 11 AM, Friday, July 30, 2010 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Princeton.

Interment: Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Princeton, MN.

(Williams Dingmann, Princeton)