Wilma was born in Bockelah Germany in 1935 and grew up in Alfstedt Germany just outside of Bremerhaven. She was the oldest of eight children born to Anna and Johann Frese. She vividly remembered WWII in her North Sea port town, and its after-effects. In 1952, with her town still recovering from the war, Wilma’s parents put their 17-year-old daughter on a boat to America, with a sponsor family waiting for her in New York.

While working in New York as a caregiver, cook, and seamstress, Wilma learned English and American culture and met her first husband, John. John was a German man from a town 25 miles from her hometown in Germany, but they crossed an ocean to meet in New York. Tragically, Wilma was widowed with four children and another on the way when she was just 28-years-old. She married her second husband, Stanley, in 1967 and welcomed a daughter in 1969.

A few years later, Wilma’s husband retired from the New York City Transit Authority and the family moved to Tampa, then Port Richey. In 1974, they built a home in Holiday, FL close to the beaches Wilma loved. Wilma became a US citizen during the 1976 bicentennial celebration and followed that up with a career at Community Hospital (later HCA) in New Port Richey, FL where she worked the 11-7 night shift for 25 years. During that time, she also continued to sew, knit, crochet, cook, bake, and garden. Even though she worked full-time, she insisted on preparing home-made meals and sitting down for dinner as a family almost every day. Wilma’s home was blessed with frequent visits from far-away family and friends. They all raved about her German Butterkuchen and other family recipes she’d brought with her to America.

Wilma loved to dance and prided herself on knowing all the classic dances. She’d found an equally talented dance partner in her husband Stanley. They enjoyed going to dinner/dances on the weekends and they also enjoyed The Showboat Dinner Theater in Clearwater.

Wilma was widowed again in 1984. She stayed busy with her kids, grandkids, and friends from work. She and her coworkers became regulars for breakfast at Jimmy’s in downtown New Port Richey after their night shift at the hospital, and Wilma continued the Jimmy’s biscuits and gravy breakfast routine after she retired. Her family has vowed to keep that tradition going.

After retirement, Wilma met Bill, a man who loved to travel, and she made traveling a hobby. She continued to visit her family in Germany but also added lots of new adventures. She especially enjoyed New Zealand, Fiji, Alaska, and Hawaii. Bill also loved to dance so they frequented the Elks, VFW, Moose Lodge, and Knights of Columbus—they followed their favorite local dance bands and went wherever those bands were playing. Wilma learned to line dance and was always the first one on the dance floor. Her family is sure she’s leading the line dancing in heaven.

Wilma is predeceased by her husband John Schaerffer, husband Stanley Guerra, partner Bill Croxall, son Ralph Schaerffer, granddaughter Kim Holz, grandson Byron Williams, and grandson Michael Schaerffer II.

Surviving are her children Alfred (Barbi) Schaerffer, Ingrid Williams, Michael (Kandi) Schaerffer, Thomas “Moose” (Diane) Schaerffer, and Margaret (Kevin) Terwey. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: John, Kyle, Deidre, April, Kristal, Misty, Bryan, Erik, and Kimberly and thirteen great-grandchildren: Phillip, Brittany, Kimberly, Kade, Nevaeh, Damien, Brandon, Braxton, Addison, Colton, Nevaeh, Nyah, and Lydia.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Gulfside Hospice www.Gulfside.org.