Bruce Wilharm

Bruce Edward Wilharm, passed away after an eight year battle with Alzheimer’s.  He was born November 23, 1947, in Fort Dodge, Iowa the son of William Wayne Wilharm and Elizabeth Jean (Bourassa) Wilharm. Bruce married Nancy Wenck, they were later divorced. He married Rebecca Hunemuller on July 18, 1997, in Cedar Falls.

Bruce graduated from West High School in 1966, and attended the University of Northern Iowa.

He worked several construction jobs in the area, was employed at Western Electric and retired from the Training Dept. at John Deere Engine Works in August of 2009. Bruce was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls and was a 43 year member of AA.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Rebecca of Waterloo; son, Travis Wilharm, daughter Tracy Wilharm both of Jesup and daughter Kelly Wilharm of Cedar Rapids;  three stepchildren, Jason Schatzle, Brandon Schatzle both of Waterloo and Chanda (Mark) Leonard of Oswego, IL;  four grandchildren, Jacob Meyer of Kansas City, Dylan Meyer of Virginia Beach, Va, Kaitlyn Meyer and Camryn Meyer of Waterloo and five step-grandchildren, Whitney Harris and Stephanie Picha of Evansdale, Olivia Schatzle of Waterloo, Coleman and Emmitt Leonard of Oswego, Il. And four great step-grandchildren; brothers, William, of Etrick, Wi and Brian (Kathy) of Chino Valley, AZ and a sister Beverly (Jim) Mason of Waterloo and step-mother Betty Wilharm of Waterloo.  

He is preceded in death by his parents William Wilharm and Bette (Bourassa) Wilharm, a sister-in-law Ellen Wilharm.  

Bruce was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting (especially bow hunting), playing baseball in his younger years, golfing, hiking and kayaking.

During a lay-off period from John Deere he headed north to Flag Island Resort on Lake of the Woods where he did odd jobs and later became a fishing guide.  He always said that was his early retirement period.  Bruce was bit by the travel bug and enjoyed traveling in and out of the United States.

Bruce was the epitome of a people person.  His biggest joy in life was making people laugh and it didn’t matter to him that he would make a spectacle of himself doing it.  He will certainly be missed by all who knew and loved him.  

Memorial Visitation: Sunday, June 2, 2024, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, at St. John Lutheran Church 715 College St., Cedar Falls, Iowa  50613

Memorial Service: Monday, June 3. 2024, at 10:30 am, at St. John Lutheran Church.