Wilma Rehbein

Wilma F. Rehbein, age 92, formerly of Mishicot, passed to heaven on Monday September 19, 2022 while at Shady Lane in Manitowoc.

Wilma was the second child born to Julius and Helen (Krueger) Reckelberg on July 17, 1930 in their farm home located in the Town of Montpelier, Kewaunee County. She was baptized as a child of God on August 3rd at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Montpelier by Pastor Pautz. As 8 more siblings came along and The Great Depression was still raging, they were taught the work ethic either in the home, or the barn, or picking stones and piling wood like many other “farm kids.” The Reckelberg children planted potatoes and brought them from field to table at least twice a day for meals. They picked acres of cucumbers and green beans to get them sold as soon as possible because their mom needed the check.

The first of their six years of schooling were at High Bluff, a one room school house which was only about two miles from the farm so it was considered walking distance. In winter, when there were heavy snows, their dad would take them with the horses and sleigh and drop them off when he hauled the milk cans to Krohn’s Cheese. Sometimes he allowed them to have a cheese curd or two.

For 7th and 8th grade Wilma attended St. Paul’s Lutheran German School. This school was even farther from the farm but was still considered walking distance. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 18, 1943 by Pastor Nau. After graduating from Kewaunee High School in June 1947, Wilma met her future husband Donald Rehbein at a Country Dance in Denmark. After their marriage on June 18, 1949, she moved from her parents’ farm to her husband’s farm near Larrabee. Their farmhouse was very primitive in the first 13 years living there with their first 5 children, but then she remembered that Don’s dad, his 2 uncles, and 8 aunts lived together in just that home from the 1890’s until the 1930’s. Donald’s dad, Grampa Arthur, really was a great babysitter and loved doing all the things little babies need as Gramma Anna had passed away in 1947.

Even as the children were arriving, chores needed to be done, their livelihood maintained, and they built a new home for their family. Wilma was a very active member of her Gibson Church’s Ladies Bible Class having been a member approximately 58 years always volunteering wherever needed. She worked for 40 years at the elections in the Town of Gibson Town Hall. She prided herself in the fact that when a separate registration became mandatory, she did so for almost every voting member in the town which at that time was over 600.

Sixty years ago when the Zander Homemakers Club, now HCE, was formed, she became a charter member. They were 16 farm women and really enjoyed their meetings and family get-togethers. The Manitowoc County Farm Bureau Women's Committee was another of her special interests with great friends there also. Wilma served both groups on many committees and especially enjoyed being chairperson of each on the county level. She received special recognition for her 25 years of reporting the costs of foods for Market Basket Survey even on holidays. When the County Fair time came close, she really enjoyed gathering up her antiques for the day of judging. Wilma also volunteered on the judging committee with helping record the judging results. Working in the Farm Bureau Food Stand was also a part of her fair experience and she was sure to volunteer many family members to pitch in.

When Don became involved in meetings, especially his four years as Manitowoc County Board Chairman, she helped along the way and enjoyed attending conferences with him.

When they sold the cows in 1992, she enjoyed dominoes with neighbor friends. Also at that time, she and her sister Alvira drove to Manitowoc and later to Sheboygan Concordia frequently to celebrate their German heritage by singing. They thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie that is part of that singing group. Wilma received a certificate from the Wisconsin Saengerbezirk for 25 years of singing. She and Don traveled to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic visiting friends and relatives a few times, and the foreign friends would come to visit here.

Following the passing of Don and after much persuasion, Wilma moved from their farm where she had lived and worked for 66 years to Yorkshire Lane in Manitowoc. There she made wonderful new friendships, enjoyed the social atmosphere, and played sheepshead.

A couple of weeks ago after a typical day of socializing and playing sheepshead, she returned to her apartment and had a fall. Wilma's health gradually deteriorated after that.

Wilma is survived by their four daughters and four sons: Julie (Ray) Meier of Houston, Texas, grandchildren John (Margot) Meier, great-grandchildren Henry, Elenore, and step-great-grandchild Sebastian; Christian (Stephanie) Meier, great-grandchildren Sophia, Evan, Laila, Isaac, and William; Susie (Tom) Maresh of Francis Creek step-grandchildren Jeff (Amanda) Maresh, great-grandchildren Lauren, Luke, Oscar, Estelle, and Liam; Becky (Jeff) Wetzel great-grandchildren Kai, Ciara, and Lincoln; Nate (Angie) Maresh, great-grandchild Calix; Connie (John) Schultz of Maribel, grandchildren Brian (Amanda) Schultz, great-grandchildren Zoe and Teagen; Sara (Thad) Maske; Sally (Ron) Likas of Manitowoc, grandchildren Spencer and Carolyn; Tim (Judy) Rehbein of Viroqua, grandchildren Micah (Devin) Voss, great-grandchildren Ridley and Zephyr; Bailey (Alex) Stroffregen, Sylas; Tom Rehbein of Madison, grandson Fletcher; Andy Rehbein of Mishicot; Dan (Rachel) Rehbein of Howards Grove, grandchildren Connor and Natalie. Surviving siblings and in-laws include: Adolph and Mary Reckelberg, John and Anita Schuller, Maynard and Verni Ihlenfeld, and Bruce and Bernice Hanson.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald, her parents, and a son-in-law Peter Borremans.  Also preceding her in death are siblings and their spouses: Fred and Audrey Reckelberg, Wayne and Alvira Petersen, Ludwig Reckelberg, Leo and Judy Rabas, and Mike and Joyce Lemke.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday October 1, 2022 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Town of Gibson, 16904 County Road Q, Mishicot. Rev. James Heffner will officiate at the service, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday September 30, 2022 at the Lambert-Eckert Funeral Home, 344 S. State Street, Mishicot. The visitation will continue after 9:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church until the time of service at 11:00 a.m.

Online condolences may be sent to the Rehbein family by visiting www.dejamartin.com.

Memorials would be appreciated in Wilma's name for Manitowoc Lutheran High School music department or St. John's Gibson 150th anniversary celebration.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Shady Lane and Homecare Hospice for their tender care; a thank you to Pam for being a wonderful friend; and a special thank you to Jenny for her extra loving care and companionship.