Gerald Wilhelm

Gerald “Jerry” Arthur Wilhelm, 90, of Perrysburg OH, passed away on December 31, 2022. He was born August 20, 1932, Toledo, OH to Theodore and Rosaline (Polardy) Wilhelm. He graduated Central Catholic High School Class of 1950 and he later worked for many manufacturing companies including Dun and Bradstreet, Acklin Stamping Plant, Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical, Midland Ross Corporation, Reichert Manufacturing, Teledyne, and Champion Spark Plug.

After high school, Jerry embarked on an apprenticeship in the Tool and Die industry at the Acklin Stamping Plant. He ultimately became a Journeyman tool and die maker and was offered a teaching opportunity at the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) in Washington D.C. However, he opted to remain in Toledo instead and raise his family. He worked for several manufacturing companies until he was approached by Teledyne, which at that time had governmental contracts with the Air force to build engines for military aircraft. Although they had many bright young minds with degrees in aeronautical engineering and engine design, what they needed was a sharp, seasoned professional who understood the manufacturing and machining process to run the complicated assembly line; Jerry Wilhelm served in this capacity for the next 10 years. From there, he moved on to Champion Spark Plug, as Manager of Manufacturing Engineering and ultimately was assigned an additional oversight role in the Robotics division. He stayed with Champion Spark Plug until retirement in 1989, closing out an illustrious career.

Jerry and Mary Lou were married in Toledo, OH in 1955 and earlier this year celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. At a 2019 Celebration of Marriage ceremony at St Joan of Arc Catholic Church (Maumee, OH), they were the longest wed couple in attendance (64 years). Their love for each other was unending and bestowed each day on their family. They raised 3 children: Rebecca (Becky), Todd, and Scott. Jerry never missed birthdays, graduations, weddings, or Holiday gatherings with the family. He always had a smile and words of encouragement and wisdom to impart upon each of them. He then extended that love to his grandchildren Kristopher and Alexandria, who called him “Bomps”; and more recently, his great-grandchildren Ryke (age 5) and Libby (age 3), took up all of “Pop Pop’s” attention and love.

Besides family, the other great love of Jerry’s life was collecting and repairing antique clocks and watches, an interest naturally suited to his skills with tool and die making. This lifelong hobby included traveling with Mary Lou throughout the Midwest and beyond to clock shows and conventions, where he collected a wide variety of clocks and watches. Jerry was fascinated by clock mechanisms and spent countless hours in his home workshop providing maintenance and repair services for clocks in his own and others’ collections. He ultimately formed his own business: “Gerald A. Wilhelm, Antiquarian Horologist since 1970”. He was a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) and in 1997, the Chapter Board honored him with special recognition and deep appreciation for his many years of “Outstanding Service”, including multiple terms as President of the Maumee Valley Chapter #38 of the NAWCC. The NAWCC motto is Tempus Vitam Regit, which translated from Latin means “time rules life”. Given Jerry’s lifelong love of antique clocks, no words ring more true for him or any of us, and we are all grateful for the time he spent here in our lives.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Lou (Angevine) Wilhelm; children, Rebecca L. (James) Parrish, Todd A. Wilhelm and Scott M. Wilhelm (Virginia “Jeannie” Wong); grandchildren, Kristopher (Kelli) Parrish and Alexandria (Jeffrey) Parrish-Williams; great grandchildren, Libby and Ryke; and sister, Janet Lee. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Theodore John, Harvey, Alvin, and Raymond.

Visitation will be on Thursday, January 5, 2023 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave, Toledo, OH 43623. A prayer service will begin at 5:30 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday January 6, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 5856 Heatherdowns Blvd, Toledo, OH 43614. Entombment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the Family requests that you kindly contribute in Memory of Jerry to one or both of the organizations listed; The Alzheimer’s Association, ( act.alz.org/goto/Gerald_Wilhelm2022 ), Sunshine Communities, ( https://www.sunshine.org/donate-2/memorial-or-honorarium /) On the donation page, please be sure to check the box indicating “I would like to dedicate this donation”. You will then be directed to enter Gerald (or Jerry) Wilhelm in the Tribute Name space as the memorial honoree. You may also choose to direct any notifications to the following email address: wongandwilhelm@gmail.com. The family would like to thank Kingston of Perrysburg, Memory Care Unit Staff and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for their compassion and care.