Nancy Joyce Wilhelm

1923 - 2022

Nancy Joyce Wilhelm

Daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend…..Nancy Joyce Wilhelm, the matriarch of our family, passed away Thursday, September 15, 2022, at the age of 99.

Nancy was born in Toledo on June 15, 1923, to William and Mary Layden, Irish immigrants. And the luck of the Irish followed her throughout her life.

Nancy graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1941, where she was active on the school newspaper. It was at Central that she met the love of her life and future husband, Don Wilhelm.

Nancy and Don were married in 1945 and enjoyed 61 years of love, friendship and devotion until Don's passing in 2006. Nancy and Don were blessed with eight children and their home was one of controlled chaos, always brimming with the children and their friends, and then their spouses, and then grandchildren and great grandchildren. But Nancy was always calm and cool, treating all with the warmth, wisdom and wit that were her hallmarks. A devout Catholic, Nancy lived her faith as an inspiration to all of us.

Nancy was an active partner in and ardent supporter of Don's business ventures, which culminated with his founding of Helm Instrument Company in 1962 in the basement of their home. In 1969, Don left a secure and well-paying job with Owens-Illinois to devote his full-time efforts to Helm. Nancy encouraged and supported Don in those actions, despite having six children still at home (which surely demonstrated her courage, as well as her confidence in Don). After 60 years, Helm continues to thrive doing business all over the world and now led by Nancy's children and grandchildren.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Elizabeth and Ann; husband, Don and her granddaughter, Sarah Tracy. She is survived by her children, Donald Jr., Mary Lynn (Ron) Tice, Richard (Mary Alice), Elizabeth (Dennis) Tracy, Michael (Peggy), Joyce (Ned) Phillips, Tom and Teresa (Dan); 27 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren; nieces, Karen (Marty) Bokesch and Cheryl (Tom) Wood and nephew, Jim Collier. She is also survived by the entire crew at Loma Linda's, who always treated her like family, for which the Wilhelm's are forever grateful.

Thank you Mom and Grandma for the love you had for us and the joy you always shared with us. Yours was truly a life well-lived!

Suaimhneas siorai, a stór Nancy

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Promedica Hospice for their compassionate care.

Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., on Tuesday, September 20th from 2:00-8:00 p.m. where a Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joan of Arc Church, 5856 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, OH 43614, on Wednesday, September 21st at 10:30 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Children's Outreach Ministries or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Please view and sign our online "guest registry" at CoyleFuneralHome.com

www.coylefuneralhome.com