Marcella Wiedenbeck

Marcella Wiedenbeck, age 92, entered Heaven on Wednesday, November 19, 2014, with her family by her side at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. She was born on January 4, 1922, to Harley and Aurelia Storms in Muscoda. Her father died when she was five years old, so her mother, brother, and she lived a difficult life while farming during the Depression. Marcella attended school and graduated from Muscoda High School in 1940. On April 11, 1959, she was united in marriage to Harry Wiedenbeck and two families became one. Together they farmed just outside of Lancaster until their retirement. Despite the difficulties that often came along with farming, Marcella loved being outside, watching crops grow, raising animals, and working hard. Farming was truly her passion. When retirement came, the couple moved to La Crosse to be closer to their youngest daughter, Joy, and her family. Their days were filled with helping raise their three youngest grandchildren, Amanda, Allyson, and Erin. Marcella enjoyed crafting and especially enjoyed making homemade Christmas ornaments that to this day decorate the families Christmas trees.

When Harry passed in 2007, Marcella moved back to Lancaster and continued to live independently. Again Marcella found that she needed something to occupy her days, so she began focusing on her quilting. Each day, she would work on a quilt, and during the last seven years, she completed well over one hundred quilts. In fact, she was working on a quilt just a few days prior to her death.

Survivors include her daughters: Judi Bembenek, Lancaster; Peggy (John) Sieger, Trempealeau; Colleen (Steve) Graney, Lancaster; Jeannie (Karl) Blumer, Albany; Joy (Kevin) Hennessy, La Crosse; a son, Dick (Rhonda) Wiedenbeck, Lancaster. She was proud to say she had eleven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren and three nephews, Dennis, David, and Donnie Storms.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Harry; sons, Theron Chitwood and Alan Pete Wiedenbeck; brother, Donald Storms; and a sister-in-law, Norma Storms.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 22, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bethlehem E&R Church in Lancaster with Reverend Mark Dieter officiating. Private family burial will be in Basswood Cemetery, Eagle Township. Family and friends called on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the family.

The family would like to thank the staff at Grant Regional Health Center, Lancaster Rescue Squad, Paramount EMS, and Gundersen Health Center in La Crosse, especially the staff in critical care, 6^th floor medical and palliative care. Thank you for caring for our Mom, Grandmother, and great-grandmother with dignity and respect during her final days. During her final hours, Marcella told her family she wanted to go home. We are happy you are home now and at peace. We are blessed to have had you in our lives as long as you were. You will remain in our hearts forever. We love you.