Bonnie Roehrborn
Wilma was a very special aunt to me. We shared many letters back and forth over her later years in life, and what drew me to her was the fact that she always told it to you straight no matter what you thought about it, which is a characteristic I've always valued highly. She could also make you laugh like hell because of that. She was a ravishing beauty on the farm who many don't know went by the nickname, "Willie", and who fell in love with their farm hand, Shorty, who went off to war. As the story was told to me by my cousins after they had both passed (and if this is wrong please correct me), Shorty was missing in action for some reason. Upon receiving this news, Wilma's brother, Daniel, enlisted, & they somehow found each other in Hawaii. I have photos of them posing with some lovely Hawaiian beauties...for posterity only I'm sure. So her handsome farmhand and her brother thankfully both came home from WWII in one piece, but barely as her brother's ship was bombed by a Japanese kamikaze pilot!! And within a week they were married and off to CA to begin their life together. What I remember most is how she spoke about Uncle Shorty and how much she loved him until the day he died and beyond. We should all be so lucky to find that kind of love. I miss those letters, her kind words, the laughs, the advice and just having her in my world. I know she's still here, and I want her to know she'll never be forgotten. Bonnie Roehrborn- Niece & current family historian/genealogist
