WHITEWATER/DELAVAN – Clarence Willms Jr., age 88, of Whitewater passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, June 8, 2017 surrounded by his family. Known by most as J.R., he was born on February 14, 1929 to Clarence Sr. and Laura (Andersen) Willms. He lived an active life being first raised on the family farm and then stepping away to defend his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In 1959, he married his first wife Sandy (Kohn) until they were parted by her tragic death just six weeks following. He married Beverly Joyce (Marks) on August 1960 and shared 42 years together. They raised three daughters; Lori (Dean) Truckenbrod, Julie (Andy) Kortendick, and Karla (Kevin) Kegley. Clarence has three grandchildren; Justin, Logan, and Holly. He has two great grandchildren; Caban and Zoe. Together Clarence and his late wife Beverly enjoyed travel, camping, motorcycle riding, and spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed countless hours working on his Farmall tractor collection restoring each of them to their original charm. His time was filled with hunting for tractor parts and tinkering in his work shop. If he wasn’t there, he was bird watching out the window. He loved fishing, hunting, farming, and gardening. Keeping up with Clarence was hard, but if you couldn’t find him a great bet would be to check the local pub where he often enjoyed a cold beer and fish fry. He was a member of the Mukwonago American Legion, Post 375. Clarence was a retiree from American Motors.
In November 2015 he married Judith (Correll) Willms at Sugar Creek Lutheran Church in Elkhorn. J.R. loved his church family and enjoyed celebrating his faith in Christ in the “old historic church.”
Clarence is survived by his sisters, Lorraine and Darlene; brothers, Marvin, Donald, and Kenneth.
Clarence is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William “Willie.”
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at Sugar Creek Lutheran Church, N5690 Cobblestone Road in Elkhorn with Rev. Dick Inglett officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service on Wednesday at the church. Burial will take place at Sugar Creek Cemetery.
