Joan Lois Wilhelmy

 Joan Lois Wilhelmy (age 93) passed away on November 18, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Joan was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 25, 1931. In 1951 she married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Robert Karl Wilhelmy, and amazingly raised their nine children.

 Grandma Joan, as she came to be lovingly called, was an incredibly remarkable woman. She raised their nine children while her devoted husband worked two and three jobs to support their family, and then began a long career in banking. She was a role model of strength, determination, thoughtfulness, values, virtues, and her Catholic faith in every aspect of her long and productive life. Some have said admiringly that she made stubbornness a virtue. She enjoyed bingo, reading, traveling, casinos, the outdoors, and most importantly - spending time with her family. She was exceptionally athletic and was even offered a contract to play women’s professional basketball right out of high school.

 She is survived by her children Thomas (Joan) Wilhelmy, Gregory (Tammi) Wilhelmy, Lynn (Stephen) Polski, Scott (Rosemarie Hughes) Wilhelmy, Victoria (Stephen) Orme, Wendy Wilhelmy, Michelle Wilhelmy, Todd (Kymberleigh) Wilhelmy, and Bradley (Jennifer) Wilhelmy. She was the proud grandmother to 22 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren (and counting).

 She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 47 years, Robert Karl Wilhelmy; parents George and Elsie Leitner; and siblings Arnold (Lillian) Leitner and Dorrine (Paul) Murphy, and their spouses.

 A visitation will be held Monday, November 25, 2024 at Kessler Maguire Funeral Home (640 West 7th St., Saint Paul, MN 55102) from 4-7PM. A funeral service will be held at St. Peters Catholic Church (1405 Sibley Memorial Hwy, St Paul, MN 55150) on Tuesday November 26, 2024 at 11AM with a visitation 1 hour prior.

 In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Mendota in memory of Joan. (https://www.stpetersmendota.org/donations)