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Clair L. Wilhelm / Sept. 9, 1925-Aug. 8, 2009
Published 8:36am Tuesday, August 11, 2009MASON – Clair entered into eternal life on Aug. 8, 2009.
He was born Sept. 9, 1925, in Redding, Pa.
An educator and coach for more than 40 years, he loved teaching and the students whose lives he touched.
He often spoke of the joy he felt in the successes of his “kids.”
As a coach he taught the values of hard work, perseverance and love of team, and his life exemplified those values as well.
He was elected to the Michigan Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1994 and made honorary member in the Mason Chapter of the FFA in 2005.
Clair was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Kaye, and is survived by his loving wife Barbara, son Karl (Lisa) and the lights of his life, his granddaughters, Emma Kaye and Tessa Dianne Wilhelm.
There will be no services.
Memorials may be made in his honor to McLaren Visiting Nurse and Hospice, 2316 S. Cedar St., Suite 600, Lansing, MI 48910.
His family is being served by the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 621 S. Jefferson, Mason, Mich.
I was a member of the knothole club.(always remember)
Coach Wilhelm played a major role in the development of many young men that he coached and taught at Dowagiac UnionHigh School including myself. I remember him fondly. he was tough but fair. His yell was more of a growl and it always got your attention. His advice was always sound and it was obvious that he truly cared about his students and players. He had great wisdom and I am fortunate to have known him. Lennie Stover
Our prays go out to you and your family in your time of loss. We will forever remember coach and all of the good that he did in Dowagiac. I remember his cold stare when I said something stuipd, but if I stared back he would eventually smile. May God continue to bless your family. Please find comfort in all His works.
Kenneth, Doretha, Edgar and Clara Wilson
I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION,AND JUST CHECKED MY E-MAIL.COACH WILHELM AND MY DAD HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER IN MARLETTE,MI.,AND MY UNCLE RON WILTSE ALSO KNEW CLAIR,AS HE WAS A COACH IN TAWAS,MARLETTE,AND BROWN CITY,I HAD THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP AT BIRCH LAKE B.BALL CAMP,AND HAD THE TIME OF MY LIFE WITH GUYS LIKE JOHN LASKOWSKI,PAT MAGLEY,AND OF COURSE EDGAR WILSON,I LEARNED FUNDEMENTALS WHICH ALOT OF THE KIDS DON’T KNOW TODAY. MY COUSIN CHRIS ERVIN COACHED AT MASON,AND HE LEARNED ALOT FROM CLAIR,COACH WAS ALWAYS FAIR,DEMANDED HARD WORK BUT REWARDED YOU WITH A NICE GOOD JOB WITH A MORE SUBTLE GROWL,UNFORTUNATELY,I NEVER GOT TO PLAY FOR COACH,AS HE RESIGNED AT DOWAGIAC,AND MY JUNIOR,AND SENIOR YEARS I PLAYED FOR COACH SCHUURING,AND COACH CRANDALL. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YEAR LIKE THE 1973 BIG ORANGE MACHINE,AND WE SHOULD HAVE WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THAT YEAR,BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH LAKESHORE. MY SINCERE SYMPATHYS GO OUT TO MRS.WILHELM,AND KARL,HIS WIFE,AND FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE TO COME UP IF THEY HAVE A MEMORIAL SERVICE,AND DOWAGIAC,AND ME WERE A FAR BETTER COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THE COACH,AND HE MADE ME INTO A MAN BEFORE MY TIME. MY BROTHER MARK WILTSE ALSO PLAYED ON THE QUARTERFINAL TEAM WHEN WE WERE AHEAD OF MUSKEGON HEIGHTS WITH SEVEN MINUTES TO GO IN THE GAME BY TEN,AND ENDED UP GETTING BEAT. MY LOVE TO THE COACH,AND HIS SPIRIT,SOUL,AND FAMILY,I’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU COACH. SCOTT WILTSE,CLASS OF 1976,DOWAGIAC UNION HIGH SCHOOL. S.E.W.
I’D JUST LIKE TO PASS ALONG MY SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES TO MRS.WILHELM,KARL AND HIS FAMILY ABOUT THE PASSING OF COACH WILHELM. HE WAS A GOOD MAN AND A HECK OF A COACH. HE TAUGHT ME MOST OF WHAT I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GAME WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,AND ATTENDING,AND HAVING FUN AT BIRCH LAKE. NO TEAM WILL DUPLICATE THE BIG ORANGE MACHINE. HE ALWAYS TREATED HIS PLAYERS WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT,AND GOT THE MOST OUT OF THEIR POTENTIAL. I DIDN’T GET THE CHANCE TO PLAY FOR COACH AS MY SOPHMORE YEAR WAS HIS LAST YEAR AT DOWAGIAC,BUT I HAD A GOOD CAREER AS A RESULT OF HIS TEACHING AND COACHING ME. GODSPEED TO YOU COACH,AND I’LL MISS YOU. RESPECTFULLY,SCOTT WILTSE