(The following obiturary was written up for Clem by his family.)

Bernard Clement “Clem” Wehe 1918 -2008

  We have been blessed to have spent time with an extraordinary man, Clem Wehe. He passed away at 90 on September 28th, 2008 in Santa Barbara California surrounded by his loving children.

 Bernard Clement Wehe was born on August 14th, 1918 to Boniface and Anna (Weber) Wehe on their farm in Loyal, Wisconsin.  He helped his family on the farm until the age of 20; in 1938 he went to Wilmette, Illinois, where he worked at the convent where his sister Louise was studying.  In March of 1941 he was drafted into the US Army.  His basic training was with a horse-mounted cavalry in Campo, California. Before the Battle of the Bulge campaign in World War II, Clem was obliged to replace his horse and bugle with a Sherman tank.  He was assigned to Patton’s Third Army - Tenth Armored Division, 11th Tank Battalion.  He lost the tank to a heavy shelling incident in Berdorf, Luxembourg, after which he was awarded the Purple Heart and also the Bronze Star for Bravery.
 
 After his service with the Army ended in 1946, he returned home to spend time with his family and visit the parents of a friend who was killed in the war.  In September of 1947, he went to California with two friends.  In March 1948, Clem decided to fulfill a childhood dream.  He became God’s faithful servant in the Franciscan Order as a Brother. The next 24 years found him building, fixing, mentoring, and praying. His hobbies included forming Bonsai trees and brewing great beer at St. Anthony’s Seminary in Santa Barbara.
 
 Clem met a woman who survived the death of her husband and their youngest daughter, and had 13 remaining children to raise. Clem felt a strong calling to love and care for Sheila and her brood.  The Church agreed, so Clem left the Order and married Sheila one beautiful June day in 1972. His duties immediately increased 13-fold. Clem continued building, fixing, mentoring, and praying. He was a model father to all 13 children, a model grandpa to numerous grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Sheila died in October 2003 married to Clem for 31 years.  She was the love of his life.

 Clem was a talented man.  He could fix almost anything.  He was known for the many things he made from wood - especially clocks and birdhouses - which he often gave to family members as gifts.  He was a man of faith.  He attended Mass almost daily.  He shared a love of the Rosary with his wife Sheila; when he died his family was with him saying the Rosary.
 
 Besides his wife Sheila, Clem was preceded in death by his brothers John, Wilfred and Gene and his sister Louise (Sister Imelda).  He is survived by his brother Jerome of Loyal, Wisconsin, his nephew and niece Al  and Peggy of Kingwood, Texas and his thirteen children – Harriet Roberts (Chuck) , Kathleen Molloy (Mike), Mary Jo Williams (Vern) , Joe Bohnett (Sandy), John Bohnett (Tamara), Floyd Bohnett (Debbie), Jerome Bohnett , Matt Bohnett, Tony Bohnett (Suzie), Dan Bohnett (Nancy), Theresa Coronado (Mario) , Claire Mon (Hector), Dominic Bohnett (Darci) and numerous loving grandchildren and great-grand children.
 
Clem Wehe had a motto he lived by each day and this is it:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

 --Prayer of St. Francis

Godspeed, dear Clem.  We love you and miss you already!

Remembrances may be made in Clem's honor to Villa Majella of Santa Barbara, the American Diabetes Association, the Arthritis Foundation, or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Association.

Rosary at St. Anthony’s Seminary Chapel, 2300 Garden Street, Thursday, October 2, at 7:30 pm.

Funeral will he held at  San Roque Church, 325 Argonne Circle, Friday, October 3, at 10:00 am.