Jane Wilms was welcomed into the arms of her Savior on the evening of October 9, 2023. Jane was born on November 9, 1949, to Helmuth & Anita Prahl in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, following two older brothers.  She was Baptized into God's family at Trinity Lutheran Church (est. 1839), Freistadt, WI.

Jane attended elementary school at Calvary Lutheran Church School in Thiensville and was Confirmed on April 7, 1963. Her bible verse was "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. 2:10. She graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee.   After high school, Jane worked as the Office Clerk and Bookkeeper for her father's excavating and grading business in Germantown & Mequon.  After several years, she had the opportunity to become an Executive Assistant to the City Manager for Mequon, WI.  Having served there for several years, she accepted the position as Deputy City Clerk for Germantown and after less than a year, was appointed to the City Clerk's position as result of a vacancy.  She retired after 20 years of service to Germantown and moved to Bella Vista, AR, in April 2006 to join her husband.

During her service as City Clerk with Germantown, she served as Recorder and Official Record Keeper for the Governing Board, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Zoning Adjustment.   Wisconsin Clerks are responsible for all election logistics (federal/state/county/local) on all elections.  She served her community with distinction, being selected as the "Citizen-of-the-Year2001".  Jane was active with the WELS-Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) Committee, serving as its first Secretary from 1983-85. She was also involved with Germantown Junior Women's Club, actively sang in the church choir, and served on the Counting Team with Garden Homes Lutheran Church, Milwaukee.   Jane and Larry were joined in marriage 32.5 years ago at the church.

As City Clerk, she was encouraged to become active in the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association (WMCA).  Over time progressing from member to Region Director, then Vice President and finally President.  Jane became a Wisconsin Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) and achieved the status of Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) from the IIMC through training and advanced education.   She was a long-time and concurrent member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), based in California, and having a total membership of nearly 15,000 Municipal Clerks and Recorders from all 50 States, Canadian Provinces, the United Kingdom, England, the Netherlands, and South Africa.  She was selected by her peers to serve as a IIMC Region 6 Director.

Residents of the unincorporated Bella Vista Village P.O.A. lands were dependent upon the Benton County Quorum Court for their governance; however, many believed and concluded that real local governance of their 320 Subdivisions (and resultant 38,000+ created lots) was inadequate;  and residents desired greater local control and governance via Arkansas Laws that were lacking under the covenants and county rule.  The leadership supporting the required incorporation as a town or city succeeded in getting the incorporation question placed upon ballot for the November 2006 Presidential Election.   In addition, they had enlisted a slate of men and women eligible for election to offices of:  Mayor,  Clerk-Treasurer,  five (5) Councilors at-large, and a City Attorney, should the vote for incorporation be successful.

Incorporation was successful, and following enumeration of included Year-2000 Census Tracts affirmed that the included resident count enabled the new town to be established as a new city of the 1st class.   This resulted in the new city creating 3 wards inclusive of the 5 elected Councilors and requiring an election for a 6th, and the birth of the City of Bella Vista!  Jane served the 4-year term as the City's first Clerk & Treasurer; and thereafter elected to a second 4-year term as part-time City Clerk.  Other duties included Human Resources Director and Executive Assistant to Mayor Frank Anderson.  She chose to retire finally after 2.5 more years as Executive Assistant under newly elected Mayor Peter Christie.

In retirement she enjoyed gardening, regularly taking her pups for walks at Scottsdale Park below Loch Lohman Dam, shopping, and some travel. She was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 2019; the disease slowly closed her many activities at home, at her church and socially.  She was taken to the emergency room and found to have a system wide septic shock infection and acute respiratory failure, being admitted to ICU immediately, surviving for 5 difficult days.   She was called home to her Savior Jesus on the evening of October 9th, where she enjoys sunny days, no pain or sorrow and singing praises to her Lord.  She is missed!

She is survived by her loving husband, Larry, an older brother, James (Diana) and sister-in-law Charlotte, seven nephews/nieces, many cousins & numerous friends, and 16 great-nieces/nephews.    Jane was preceded in death by her grandparents, her father and mother, and her younger-older brother Herb.

A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 14070 Hwy AR-279, Hiwasse, AR 72736. A light lunch will be served following the service.

Jane would have preferred any gifts or memorials be made to the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, 32 Bella Vista Way, Bella Vista, AR 72714, or Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 11831 N. Seminary Drive, Mequon, WI 53092.

Thank you all for sharing Jane's life!!!

Arrangements are under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralnation.com.