Donald L. Wilhelm
WILHELM Donald L. Donald L. Wilhelm passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, January 26, 2008. Born in Fremont, Ohio on March 3, 1936, to Edward J. Wilhelm and Ellen (Sorg) Wilhelm, Don graduated from Central Catholic High School. He attended St. Meinrad's Seminary and the University of Toledo. Don was employed for 25 years by the Catholic Diocese of Toledo. After serving as administrative assistant to Msgr. Lawrence J. Ernst, he was appointed director in 1971 of the newly established Toledo Diocesan Office of Pastoral Services. He was the first lay person to serve as a director. His many responsibilities included the establishment of a Diocesan Pastoral Council and Parish Councils. In addition, he served as Staff Consultant and Facilitator for the Catholic Conference of Ohio (Columbus, Ohio) as well as for the Bishop's Advisory Council at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington D.C. Don was contracted as an organizational consultant/facilitator by over 30 church-related organizations or dioceses in the United States and Canada. He was forced to retire in 1987 following a diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Don's past affiliations include: President, Toledo Deanery Council of Catholic Youth; Vice President, Toledo Jaycees; Chairman, Toledo Family Life Education Council of Toledo Public Schools; President, Levis Square Ministries of Toledo (community leaders dedicated to downtown renewal); President, Ecumenical Communications Commission of Northwest Ohio; Secretary, Toledo Catholic Diocesan Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs Commission; Board Member, Ohio Council of Churches; Member, Advisory Council, WGTE-TV; Member, Urban Task Force, Mayor's Advisory Committee on Penal Reform; Chairman, Bishop's Advisory Council, Catholic Council of Ohio; President, St. Pius X School Board (3 terms); Member, Board of Directors, Ability Center of Northwest Ohio (3 terms); Tutor, Read for Literacy Program; Prison Ministry at Milan Federal Correctional Institute for the past 10 years; Advisory Committee, Toledo Muscular Dystrophy Association and on-line mutual support and communication with over 20 persons who shared a diagnosis of ALS. Don is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Patricia (Holzemer); daughter, Gretchen (Donald) Squires; sons, Martin (Bridget), Philip (Melissa), Edward (Natalie) and seven grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings, Dorothy (James) Vandenbroek Sr. and Phyllis Wilhelm, OSF, Mary Jo (William) Schlagheck, Elisabeth Horwitt, Peggy (Richard) Snyder; Brother Philip, OFM, William (Pauline), Joseph (Nancy) and numerous uncles and aunts and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jean and brother, Thomas. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 28th from 2:00-8:00 p.m. with a Scripture service at 7 p.m. at Wisniewski Funeral Home, 2426 North Reynolds Road. Services will be held at Corpus Christi University Campus Parish on Tuesday, January 29th at 11:00 a.m. Donations in lieu of flowers should be sent to Corpus Christi University Catholic Parish; Hospice of Northwest Ohio; Central Catholic High School, Toledo; or the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Toledo (ALS programming).