BLAIRSTOWN:  Scott Francis Wilhelm, 62, died Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House, following a very short illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton.  a reception will follow at the Vinton American Legion.   Interment will be held at Mound Cemetery, Watkins.   Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 8:00 PM, Wednesday also at the funeral home.  A memorial fund has been established.

Scott was born on January 8, 1963, to Jerome and Donna (Dolge) Wilhelm in Cedar Rapids.  He attended Benton Community High School with the class of 1981.  On June 24, 1989, he was united in marriage to Christine Ure at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.  Scott has worked as a bus driver for Benton Community Schools for many years.  He was known as "Grumpy Grandpa" to generations of pre-schoolers.

Scott was known as "Mr. Fix-it" and was always willing to explain the solution to a problem or show up in person to lend his expertise.  He loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, turtle hunting and had more recently taken up hunting game with his son and son-in-law.  He made it a point to explain the difference between a blue gill and a crappie, and never to grab a catfish by the whiskers.  Scott loved cars, and had the skill to work on them, though that was not his favorite activity.  He was also an accomplished woodworker.  He enjoyed listening to the Sunday Morning Polka Show on the radio, and was a big fan of Christmas music, not just during the Christmas season.  His special joy was watching his grandchildren and their activities.

He is survived by his wife Christine; children, Cindy (Kyle) Brunssen, Brandon (Reanna) Wilhelm, all of Newhall; 6 grandchildren, Isaak Schmitz, Nathan Schmitz, Anastasia Brunssen, Levi Schmitz, Jackson Schmitz, and Aubree Brunssen; his mother, Donna Wilhelm of Newhall, 2 sisters, Deb (Duayne) Herb of Hiawatha, Julie Wilhelm-Peacock of Marion; brother, Bob (Tami) Wilhelm of Deep River; and his sister-in-law, Joni (Chuck) Jones of Amana.

Scott was preceded in death by his father Jerome in 2014; father-in-law Loyal Ure in 2009, and mother-in-law Margaret Ure in 2023.

Condolences may be left at www.phillips funeralhomes.com.