Sigurd Wilhelmsen

Sigurd Wilhelmsen, 81, of St. Joseph passed away peacefully into the loving arms of his family Monday, July 25, 2005 at Caretel Inns of Royalton. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:30A.M., Thursday, July 28, with Dr. Randy Doyle officiating, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Visitation is from 6:00 ? 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 27, at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to United Way. Those wishing to send a condolence message or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Sigurd was born May 23, 1924 in Norheimsund, Norway to Svein and Randi (Rosseland) Wilhelmsen. On May 29, 1955 he married Mary Barker in Onarga, IL. Sigurd started his many careers in Norway by helping his father in the General store which included pumping gas for ferry boats. At the same time he helped his uncle in his bakery. He moved on to bookkeeping for the family owned Ferry boat company the ?Brothers Wilhelmsen Boats?. From 1947 to 1952 he worked as bookkeeper for the Electrical Company, then for a furniture company. In 1953 during his correspondence and courtship with Mary Barker, Sigurd worked as chauffeur for the ambassador of Norway in London, England. In 1955 he moved to the United States, working at Clark Equipment from 1955 to 1961 in International Appropriations. From there Sigurd worked as Office Manager for Twin Cities Multiple Listings. From 1964 to 1978 he owned three restaurants ? Sigurd?s Caf? in Bridgman, Edgewater Court in St. Joseph, and Blossomland in Benton Harbor. Sigurd also had a Hamburger/Hot dog stand at Silver Beach. Sigurd then moved on to Restaurant Manager for Orchard Hills Country Club in Buchanan, Restaurant Manager at Berghoff?s in Chicago, from 1975-1982, Dining Car Maitre d? for Amtrak and finally from 1984 to 1986 Restaurant Manager for Island House in Mackinac Island. Sigurd loved to drive and would frequently drive to South Haven and New Buffalo. After retiring he was very helpful to his neighbors in Grand Mere ? often mowing lawns and snow-blowing where needed. He made a habit of daily going to Dale?s Doughnuts, visiting his friends and watching the sunset at the beach. Sigurd is survived by his wife of fifty years, Mary; his daughter Randi (David) Crum of Stevensville; two grandchildren ? Ross and Marissa Turcotte; one brother Ragnvald Wilhelmsen of Norway and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters ? Gunvor, Ingeborg, Borghild; and brothers ? Leif, Vilhelm, Sverre, Olav, and Trygve.