The good fight has been fought and the race is finished. On the final lap, the checkered flag waves and victory is claimed by Wilmer William Calhoon.

He began this life on April 1, 1942, the third child of Willis W. and Ruby G. (Lindenmuth) Calhoon on a farm west of Glade, Kansas, and departed on January 22, 2019 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska at the age of 76 years.

His siblings recount their happy childhood on the farm and country schools and all the adventures boys could have in the great outdoors. Wilmer then attended Glade Grade School and graduated from Phillipsburg High School with the class of 1960. He then served in the United States Air Force.

Wilmer embraced a strong work ethic, always working hard. He ran a Coca Cola Distribution truck for several years. His passion for fast cars and big motors created a hobby of collections over the years – Fords, of course. He was always proud of his latest "find".

Wilmer was united in marriage to Edith Kay Hartshorn and to this union, two children were born - Corina and Cameron.

Wilmer (or "Cal", as he was known to many) owned and managed the Dairy Queen in Winner, South Dakota for 42 years. Besides the usual menu, he was known far and wide for his chicken and sherbet – not the usual fare in a Dairy Queen.

Cal married Karalee Jorgensen on November 24, 2007, the love of his life and soul companion. Together they saw dreams come true as they bought a home and retired to his roots in Glade, Kansas. She was his rock as his health declined and was always by his side.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Karalee, of Glade, KS; his son, Cameron, and daughter, Corina, both of Ekron, KY; two stepsons, Daniel and Corey Klein, both of Rapid City, SD; two brothers, Don Calhoon of Phillipsburg, KS and Wilbur Calhoon of Wales, UT; three sisters: Ruby Phillips of Concordia, KS, Vicki Weller of Denver, CO, and Sandra Calhoon of Phillipsburg; along with 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Desirae.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 25, 2019 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor LeRoy Herder officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Marvin Cemetery, Glade, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church.