Carl Wibholm
Carl Wibholm, 89, of Dows, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026, at his home in Dows. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Williams with burial in the Williams Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Williams. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls.
Carl Edward Wibholm was born April 13, 1937, at home on a farm near Garner, Iowa. His parents were A.C. (Pete) Wibholm and Anna (Thomsen) Wibholm. In 1938 the family bought a farm near Williams, Iowa. Here Carl attended Williams #12 Country School through eighth grade. He graduated from Williams High School in 1956. In August of 1956 he enlisted in the Marine Corps and was stationed in Bakersfield, California. After being honorably discharged from the Marines, he held various jobs: working in a packing plant in Bakersfield, California, buying a milk truck and picking up milk from farms around State Center, Iowa, buying a semi and hauling feed ingredients between Ames and Des Moines.
However, his dream was to own his own farm and raise a family. In 1967 he formed a partnership with his brother Axel. In 1970 they bought the Boyt Harness farm near Popejoy, Iowa, and in 1973 they bought the farm north of Dows.
On August 5, 1972, Carl married Judith Richey of Iowa Falls. To this union was born son Mike in 1973, twin sons Mark and Erik in 1974, and daughter Krista in 1976.
Farming was not only Carl’s livelihood, it was his passion. Many long hours were spent planting and harvesting, raising hogs and a cow-calf herd as well as spending time with his family. He was still actively helping with the farming at the age of 88 as well as hands and elbows deep in fixing various machinery that needed repairing.
Sadly cancer entered his body at the age of 88. He handled it with a quiet grace and toughness. He is survived by his wife Judith and his four children and their spouses — Mike and Kate Wibholm of Dows, Mark and Amy Wibholm of Ames, Iowa, Erik and Lauren Wibholm of Geneva, Switzerland, Krista and Ryan Cooley of West Des Moines, Iowa.
Sharing in his memory are his thirteen grandchildren who lovingly called him “Papa”: Nyla, Tess, Cole and Lucy, children of Mike and Kate; Mason, Ali and Lilly, children of Mark and Amy; Navy, Wallace and Wrigley, children of Erik and Lauren; Reese, Drew and Quinn, daughters of Ryan and Krista. These grandchildren loved their many sleepovers on the farm, seeing all the cows, discovering any new kittens, riding the tractor, and drinking all of Papa’s cranberry juice!
He is also survived by his brothers Axel and wife Marjorie; John and wife Judy; Ole and wife Rebecca; brother and sister-in-law Merle and Joan McMullin; as well as several cousins and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Pete and Anna Wibholm, a little sister Evelyn, and a brother Albert Wibholm.