Genevera J. (Wilhelm) Arnold

With a life that spanned nearly a century, Genevera Wilhelm Arnold created a priceless collection of memories that will be treasured for a lifetime. A loving wife and devoted mother to be sure, she was delighted to become a grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, and her family was her greatest source of pride and joy. With a love for traveling the world over, Genevera experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer. Although she will be deeply missed, her timeless legacy will be carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

With the end of WWI in 1918, America was making a shift to being a nation at peace once again. Recognized as a world leader for the first time, the eyes of the world were focused on our shores for what was to come, and we were poised for greatness. This was also an exciting time in the lives of James W. and Hazel (Raypole) Gaff as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as the beauty of spring began to unfold in Whitley County, Indiana, in 1919. The big day finally arrived on April 28th when the baby girl they named Genevera drew her first breath. She was the second of 11 children in her family, and as one of the oldest children she helped raise her nine younger siblings.

In many ways, Genevera was a young girl of her generation. As the prosperity of the 1920s gave way to the hardship of the Great Depression throughout the 1930s, the Gaff family felt the strain. Genevera lived and worked hard on an onion farm near Collins, Indiana, in Whitley County. The family eventually left the Collins area and moved to a farm over by Big Lake. It was a challenge to finish school since Genevera couldnt afford all the books. Always resourceful, she worked hard and borrowed books to complete her homework. She went on to graduate from Churubusco High School in 1937. After graduating, she started working away from the family farm at the Blue Bell Jean Factory with her paycheck being used to help support the family.

New and exciting changes were in store for Genevera when she met the young man who stole her heart. His name was F. Edward Wilhelm, and they met while out roller skating on a blind date. Sparks flew right from the start, and the rest is history as they say. Deeply in love, the sweethearts were married on August 23, 1941, at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Columbia City. The newlyweds then moved to his familys farm and began attending St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Arcola.

Shortly after marrying, Genevera stopped working at Blue Bell to help the family farm both grain and dairy. She also was a fantastic homemaker whose cooking was amazing and greatly appreciated by everyone she cooked for on the farm. Genevera loved spending time at the farm with her mother-in-law, Anna Wilhelm. In the spring of 1972, she and Edward moved to the house she lived in for the rest of her life. Together Genevera and Edward welcomed five children including James, Donald, Janet, Doyle, and Jerome into their hearts and home. She loved caring for her family and focused her time and attention on making every day a special day. Genevera loved hosting a huge family meal after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. It was a night to remember since other families would be leaving church to go home to bed while her family came home to a feast! After eating, the celebration continued with the opening of presents. Geneveras meals were often accompanied by produce fresh from her garden or from her stored canned items. She was overjoyed when grandchildren arrived, and spending time with them became a favorite pastime. Genevera was deeply saddened with Edwards death on October 18, 1982.

Genevera found love again with a family friend and fellow church member named Raymond C. Arnold who had also been recently widowed. Through faith, they started seeing each other the following year and on February 9, 1985, they were married at St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Arcola. Genevera and Raymond were great companions who especially enjoyed traveling together. She had a longtime love for traveling, and she always had a suitcase packed and was ready to go. When married to Edward he didnt care for traveling, so he was perfectly happy to send Genevera on her way to have a great time while he stayed home. She often went out West to visit her sister, Betty. Over the years she traveled extensively throughout the United States including to Hawaii, but she also traveled abroad including to Austria, Germany, and Italy. In 2002 she was widowed once again.

Throughout her life Genevera was one busy lady! She was an Indiana Certified Home Health Care Aide as well as a faithful member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Arcola, the Rosary Society, a charter member of Union Busy Belles Homemakers Extension Club, and the Colonel Augustine DeLaBalme Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution. As a wonderful homemaker, Genevera loved cooking with some of her favorite dishes being her beef and homemade noodles as well as her unforgettable sea foam salad dessert, and blueberry fluff. She enjoyed playing games, and as her family and friends can attest, she played to win! In fact, Genevera played Aggravation with her great-great-grandchildren and didnt even go easy on them! She also enjoyed playing Skip-Bo and other card games with her home health aides. Genevera was a talented seamstress who made clothes for her grandchildren and also enjoyed singing, word searches, and reading.

All who knew Genevera Wilhelm Arnold would agree that she was an extraordinary woman to know and love. She was a lover of life who was accompanied by a graceful courage and a quiet strength that were truly inspiring. Even while enduring 22 hip surgeries including traveling to the Mayo Clinic, Genevera never complained, and she faced her trials head on. Caring, generous, and kindhearted, she was a blessing to everyone she met.

Genevera Wilhelm Arnold died on Sunday, April 26, 2015, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. Geneveras family includes her children, James E. (Karen) Wilhelm of Columbia City, Donald G. Wilhelm of Fort Wayne, Janet M. (Ed) Claxton of Columbia City, Doyle O. Wilhelm of West Virginia and Jerome G. Wilhelm of Fort Wayne; step-children, Nolan (Gloria) Arnold, Nelda (Roland) Starszak, Rosalie (Robert) Placek of Fort Wayne, Margaret Jeanie (Eugene) Freiburger, Nelson (Barb) Arnold, Stanley (Hortencia) Arnold, Gregory Arnold, Kevin (Terry) Arnold and Duane (Rita) Arnold; brothers, Stanley (Priscilla) Gaff of Columbia City, Al Gaff of Columbia City, Norbert (Justine) Gaff of Green Acres, Fla.; 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; 48 step-grandchildren; 80 step-great-grandchildren and 9 step-great-great-grandchildren. Genevera was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Edward Wilhelm; second husband, Raymond Arnold; brothers, James, Julian and Jesse Gaff; sisters, Betty Egner, Mary Frances Gaff, Agnes Stanley and Ruth Coy; step-son Alan Arnold and step-daughter Lorenza Brooks.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with a Rosary service at 3:45 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 2, 2015, at St Patrick Catholic Church of Arcola, 12305 Arcola Rd, Fort Wayne with Msgr. Thadeus Balinda officiating. Burial will follow at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in Mrs. Arnold's memory toward Masses to St. Patrick's Catholic Church.