Jean Lucille Wilhelm

Jean Lucille Wilhelm, 90, of Post Falls, Idaho left her earthly home May 31, 2014 excited to join her husband in the heavenly home that was prepared for her long before she was born. Jesus welcomed her into his loving arms where her pain is gone and has been replaced with peace beyond comprehension. Born to Edward Peters and Katherine Keenan on May 13, 1924, Jean spent most of her life in Post Falls Idaho. She Graduated from Post Falls High School where her senior picture is displayed today along with her classmates of 1942. Jean met and married Herman (Dutch) Paul Wilhelm on June 13, 1942 after he convinced her to leave her current boyfriend and marry him. She spent the next 64 years in a beautiful loving marriage which was interrupted by Dutch's death on June 01, 2006. Dutch and Jean had 11 children in the span of their life together; Dutch worked outside of the home while Jean worked tirelessly in the home. She was a skilled financial manager and investment broker; stretching the dollar to feed and clothe their children and unselfishly taking in her siblings children when the need arose. Jean held many unpaid positions including; chef, baker, counselor, educator, chauffeur, nurse, motorcycle rider, barber, sports enthusiast (supporting her sons, Roger and Tim at their basketball and football games) and caregiver just to name a few. She devoted her life to the well being of others. Her only indulgence was reading(a passion she passed on to her children) taking a psychology class at the local community college and taking one trip to Hawaii with her sister Betty. We will forever remember the way mom brought the family together during the holidays. Easter meant her famous potato salad, deviled eggs, and ham along with an egg hunt for the little ones which included up to 8 dozen eggs. The Fourth of July was mom's favorite and would mean an entire day of food, bad mitten, volley ball, and horse shoes, until dark when we would gather and watch the fireworks purchased earlier at the local stand; she loved the sparklers and the loud ones the best. Everyone looked forward to thanksgiving and mom would spend 3 days in the kitchen; her pies and her stuffing were the favorites. Everyone was invited and the guest list could easily grow to 50. But it was the Christmas celebration that best represented the person mom was; a devote Catholic she made sure all of her children knew the true meaning of Christmas and the salvation we all have in Jesus, the nativity set was the first decoration up and the last to be put away. We would attend midnight mass every Christmas Eve and return home for a big feast of ham and turkey with all the fixin's and every dessert imaginable including cookies and candies she would spend weeks ahead of time making. Again the guest list was endless, family and those who became a part of the family. It is still a mystery how she could pull off such a big social event in her home that would last until 2:00 to 3:00 in the morning and still get up at 5:00 am with all her children who were too excited to sleep with the anticipation of "what did Santa bring?" Mom always managed to make sure everyone of her children's Christmas wish list was fulfilled. Jean was a skilled bowler and was a part of a league for several years that bowled at the Sawmill bowling Alley in Post Falls. She enjoyed simple things like watching TV in the evening and playing along with Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune; she would have made millions if she were to play as a contestant! She also loved playing cards, and pinochle poker was her favorite. At least once a week you could find her at the kitchen table with dad and her sons; Dick, Roger, Dan, and Phil bluffing her way to a win. Dutch and Jean were blessed with 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. There wasn't anything Jean wouldn't do for any of her grandchildren and she kept a busy schedule of taking care of them before school, after school, in the summer well into her 80's. Since money was tight but mom's heart was so big she decided with the first grandchild to save what she could in a little bank she lovingly selected for each grandchild. Some held pennies; some held nickels, or some with dimes. None really held more than enough to buy a candy bar but the value is in the sacrifice and love that went into the commitment of leaving something for her grandchildren which started over 40 years ago. Mom always wanted to have a celebration and give each grandchild their bank but time ran out. At her service her wish will be fulfilled. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Edward Peters and Katherine Keenan (Reynolds) and step father F.O. (Oscar) Reynolds; her husband Herman (Dutch) Wilhelm in 2006; her sons Charles, Joseph, John, and Timothy Wilhelm; her brothers Francis and Lawrence Peters and sisters Mary Margaret and Katherine (Betty) Peters (Adams); and one Granddaughter, Shannon Wilhelm. She is survived by her brother Edward Peters; her Children; James Wilhelm (Kathie) of Spokane WA, Richard (Dick) Wilhelm of Post Falls, Roger Wilhelm (Linda) of Post Falls, Dan Wilhelm of Post Falls, MaryAnn Schevenius (Bruce) of Post Falls, Elizabeth (Liz) Jenks (Mark) of Coeur d Alene, Phillip Wilhelm (Karen) of Post Falls; 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. Inurnment will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery 17825 E. Trent Ave. Spokane, Washington 99216 Friday June 6, 2014 at 12:30 P.M. with a memorial service to follow at 3:00 P.M. at St. Thomas Catholic Church 919 E. Indiana Ave. Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho 83814.