Wilma Ruth Bahrenburg, 82

Wilma Ruth Bahrenburg, 82, of rural Cole Camp, died Friday, February 19, 2016, at Good Samaritan Care Center, Cole Camp.  She was born on November 20, 1933, in Cole Camp, a daughter of Arthur and Myrtle (Borchers) Harms.

She was baptized on November 30, 1933, and confirmed on May 19, 1946, by Pastor J. T. Roschke at St. John's Lutheran Church near Cole Camp.  Wilma attended Prairie Flower Country School, St. John's Lutheran Church Grade School and graduated from Benton County R-1 High School.  She worked as a nanny for Julius and Elva Ruth Sieving and the Leon and Virginia Smasal families.  Wilma then moved to Kansas City and worked for Sears producing orders with a comtroller.

Wilma met Cleo Bahrenburg at Walther League at St. John/Holy Cross Church group.  The couple were married on February 5, 1956, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church parsonage in Sedalia by Pastor Walter Strickert.  This union was blessed with the gift of three children:  Janice, Joleen, and James.

She was homemaker and partnered with her husband and son to operate Bahrenburg Feeds.  Wilma also worked as a certified nurse's aide at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Cole Camp for 30 years.  She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church near Cole Camp and enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, doing embroidery, and playing cards with her friends.  She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren.

She is survived by:
her two daughters, Janice Luetjen of Stover and Joleen (Jeff) Kullman of Cole Camp;
her son, James (Julie) Bahrenburg of Cole Camp;
her brother, Olen Harms and Fern of Oak Grove;
eight grandchildren, Brad Luetjen of Ionia, Rusty Luetjen of Cole Camp, Eric (Emily) Kullman of Cole Camp, Leslie (Robb) Lower of Clinton, Kelly Kullman of Columbia, Logan Wells of Sedalia, Allyson Bahrenburg of Linn, and Casey Bahrenburg of Cole Camp; and
six great-grandchildren, Grant, Hudson, Kent, Isabella, Taylor, and Payton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cleo Bahrenburg, on June 5, 1996, her parents, Arthur and Myrtle Harms, and two sisters, Norma Strickland and Luella Schlesselman.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, with Pastor Fred Hertwig officiating.  Burial will be in Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery, Cole Camp.

A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Fox Funeral Home in Cole Camp with a visitation beginning at 6:00 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to The Lutheran Hour, Holy Cross Cemetery Fund, or Holy Cross Project Fund in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be Eric Kullman, Logan Wells, Rusty Luetjen, Chester Schlesselman, Bryan Schlesselman, and Robb Lower.