Funeral services for Ardell Rose Wilhelm, 78, of Albert Lea will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Richard Spande will officiate. Interment will be at a later date. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.
Ardell died suddenly Saturday, July 26, 2008, but peacefully at her home.
Ardell Rose Wilhelm was born on March 20, 1930, in Albert Lea, to Harry and Rose (Hollund) Holtz. She married Merle Wilhelm in 1948 in Sterling, Ill. They lived there briefly and then moved back to family in Albert Lea, until 1961. The couple moved to Hopkins where they spent 32 years and retired to Wright in 1992. After Merle passed away in 1995, Ardell moved back to Albert Lea. There she renewed old friendships and made new friends. For the past 10 years Ardell was welcomed into the Robert (Bob) Hacker family and Ardell’s family loves Bob. She loved reading cookbooks and was always finding new recipes to share with family and friends. Ardell also enjoyed playing cards, home decorating and thrift store shopping. She will be sorely missed by her treasured friends and family.
Survivors include her daughter, Sheila Lackey and her husband Dennis of Cologne; two grandchildren, Ted and Angela Lackey of Minneapolis; sister, Ardys Modderman of Albert Lea; her dear friend, Robert Hacker and his loving and welcoming family; many nieces, nephews and friends.
Ardell was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Merle; a son in infancy; brother, Merrill and sister -in-law, Ruth Holtz; and brother-in-law, Harry Modderman.