Warren Harlow Wilhelm

     A farmer Harlow was, and a farmer he remained, until he left this earth to join his wife in heaven on December 1, 2025.

     Warren Harlow Wilhelm was born on the family farm, November 11, 1930, to parents Frank and Elsie (Weyeneth) Wilhelm, the third of three children.

     He attended a one room rural school, riding his horse to school until 9th grade at which time his big sister, Iris, and he moved into the Modern Cabins during the school year so that he could complete high school in McCook, graduating in 1948. Harlow loved telling the ‘younger generation’ that his dad had to ride a horse with him to school to protect him from Indians!

     He met Nancy Leila Bridenstine in high school and after one date, her mother declared that she was not allowed to date that Wilhelm boy again. They were married in Denver, Colorado on January 8, 1951, and celebrated their 71st anniversary together, proving Rhoby wrong!

     Joining the Air Force on February 7, 1951, he served for four years as an Airman First Class, honorably discharged on February 6, 1955. When not stationed in Guam, he and Nancy traveled the United States living in California and Florida.

     Nancy expressed a desire to settle somewhere else, but Harlow’s heart was on the farm, and to the farm they returned. It was not an easy life, but they settled in and raised their family with vistas of wheat, corn, chickens, hogs and cattle from their front door. When he retired, he often spoke of missing the baby calves, his favorite part of farming!

     Harlow never turned a farmer in need down, helping harvest, move cattle, terrace fields and fixing equipment. He was a believer in fixing, not buying new, whatever he needed to keep the farm going and was a bit of a tight wad should the truth be known. It balanced Nancy perfectly.

     Supplementing their income, he did a brief stint working for the Burlington Northern Railroad and tended bar at the Elks Club from which some of his best ‘stories’ came, never names, just great stories! He never heard a joke he couldn’t repeat and ‘Harlowisms’ kept his family laughing.

     He and Nancy began traveling with their group of friends in the 70’s creating fond memories with their life-long friends.

     Harlow was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; his parents; his son, Ed; daughter-in- law, Ann; daughter, Barbara; sister, Iris Gooch; brother, Don; and many family members and friends.

     Left to celebrate his life well lived are his sons; Tom (DeeDee) and Chris (Maria); grandchildren: Zac Wilhelm, Kelly Wilhelm, Samm (Gabe) Houston, Brandon (Liz)Wilhelm and his beloved namesake great-granddaughter, Harlow Houston; sister-in-law, Susan (Sid) Doak, brother-in-law, Jim (Jean) Coady, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

     Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 PM on Monday, December 8, 2025 at Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook with Mike Roth officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow services in Memorial Park Cemetery of McCook.

     Memorials in Harlow's memory are suggested to the McCook Humane Society (Post Office Box 13, McCook, NE) or to the family of Harlow Wilhelm for later designation. Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook.