Rockford Lyle Gene Wilhelms, 74, of Rockford passed on Sunday, July 16, 2017 in Mercy Health Rockford Memorial Hospital following a sudden illness. Born February 10, 1943 in Freeport the son of Leroy Kenneth and Marjorie Lucille (Fairbairn) Wilhelms. Graduated from Freeport High School in 1961. Lyle married Darlene Luella Smith on September 8, 1962 in Freeport. He worked as a tool and die machinist and mechanic retiring from Warner Lambert Company in Rockford. Lyle enjoyed owning and drag racing cars, snowmobiling, trap shooting, animals and vacationing at their northern Wisconsin cabin. He was a big sports fan especially for the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Browns and was a dedicated Ford man.
Lyle is lovingly survived by his wife, Darlene Wilhelms of Rockford; daughters, Lana Roberts of Winnebago, Doreen (Rick) Yates of Winnebago; grandchildren, Ashley (Bryan Hutting) Yates, Dylan Roberts, Drew Roberts; great-granddaughter, Ella Powers-Yates; brothers, Gale (Linda) Wilhelms, Darrell (Carol) Wilhelms; sister, Sharon Balles; several nephews and nieces.
Lyle is predeceased by his parents; grandson Adam Yates; brother-in-law, Jim Balles.
Funeral Information
Funeral service 12:00 p.m. Friday, July 21, 2017, at Genandt Funeral Home, 602 N. Elida St., Winnebago with Pastor Kurt Strong of Bible Community Church in Freeport officiating. Interment at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Freeport. Visitation 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the funeral home.
