Samuel E. Wilms, (Sam) 86, of Elyria, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Danbury of North Ridgeville, following a long illness.

He was born on January 19, 1939, in Neenah, Wisconsin. Sam proudly served in the United States Army and later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.

Sam was a devoted family man who cherished spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was always a phone call away for anyone who needed help with a project, flat tire, or any one of his many areas of expertise. His generosity, knowledge, and experience touched all who met him.

Sam's Midwest values of hard work and persistence started at an early age on his family's dairy farm in Wisconsin. Upon graduating from Neenah High School, he served in the U.S. Army and eventually ended up in Elyria, Ohio to work at Lake Erie Plastics, after finishing college. Sam dabbled in several entrepreneurial business ventures until he began working as an Electrician at the Ford Motor Company in Brookpark, Ohio. There, he dedicated over thirty years of service before retiring. Sam enjoyed gardening, the stock market, and driving his 1966Ford Mustang convertible around town.

He is lovingly remembered by his daughters, Tamara J. Tinney (Jerry) of LaGrange and Denise G. Nicol (Wayne) of Avon; sons, Lonnie E. Wilms of Elyria, Timothy E. Wilms (Debra) of Elyria, and Steven F. Wilms of Richmond, KY; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and his sister, Kathleen Eger of Delaware.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Forrest and Lavina (née Andersen) Wilms; sisters, E. Joyce Reid and Elaine Sorenson; and brothers, Sheldon, Phillip, William, and Wallace "Corky".

A Celebration of Samuel's Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, 312 3rd St., Elyria, OH 44035. The family will receive friends at the church from 1 PM until the time of service. Pastor James Szakacs will officiate.

Interment will take place privately at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio, where full military honors will be provided by the U.S. Army.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home of Elyria, (440) 322-4626. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.laubenthalmercado.com.