Ellen Wiest

Ellen Wiest, 85, of Fort Atkinson, Iowa died April 15, 2013 at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home, in Decorah, Iowa, after a lengthy history of cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 19, 2013, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas, Iowa, with Rev. Nick March presiding. Burial will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, Iowa. Friends may call from: 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Chekal Chapel, Fort Atkinson, Iowa. There will be a Foresters Rosary at 4:00 p.m., and a scripture service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Friends may also call after 9:30 a.m., at St. Luke’s Catholic Church on Friday morning. Ellen Catherine Schwickerath was born February 12, 1928 to Victor and Rose (Gebel) Schwickerath. She grew up in the rural areas of North Washington and Alta Vista and enjoyed being on the farm and the close relationships she had with her brothers and sisters. Ellen married Arthur Wiest on April 21, 1947, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista, Iowa and they had six children. Ellen's life centered around her family. She was well known for her cooking and baking. Ellen enjoyed playing cards, watching game shows, and spending time with her family. Ellen had been a member of the Fort Atkinson Legion Auxiliary since 1947, holding many offices during those years, the Catholic Order of Foresters, St John's Guild, and St John's Catholic Church of Fort Atkinson. After raising her children, she was employed at Northeast Iowa Technical Institute (now NICC) as head cook for thirteen years. Ellen is survived by her six children: Jan (Lance) Sbiral, Spillville, IA; Wayne (Corinne) Wiest, Calmar, IA; Joyce (Roger) Hageman, Ossian, IA; Judy (Dr. W. Douglas Weaver) St. Romain, Birmingham, MI; Ron (Mary Tschida) Wiest, St. Paul, MN, and Jo (Dan) Allers, Hiawatha, IA. Also surviving are Ellen's six grandchildren: Jason (Alice) Sbiral, Jennessa (Brian) Luzum, Josh (Laura) St. Romain, Amanda (Chad) Humpal, Grant Wiest and Kendra Wiest. Also surviving are Ellen's eight great-grandchildren: Noah and Trevor Sbiral, Cael, Ellie, and Lauren Luzum, Dillon St. Romain, and Landon and Kennedy Humpal. Her siblings: Arlene (Mike) Heying, New Hampton, IA; Millie Webber, Independence, IA; Clair (Tina) Schwickerath, Cambridge, MA; and Doris (Sylvester) Mrachek, Schley, IA. Ellen's sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Anne (Bill) Swisher, Waterloo, IA; Vera Wiest, Fort Atkinson, IA; Marj Schwickerath, Waterloo, IA; Marlene Schwickerath, Apache Junction, AZ and Arnold (Betty) Wiest, Fort Atkinson, IA. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Rose (Gebel) Schwickerath, her husband, Arthur, in 1995, her brothers, Earl and LaVern Schwickerath, her husband's parents, Henry and Agnes Wiest, her brothers-in-law, Bob Webber, Henry Jr. and Clarence Wiest, and her grandson, Darin Hageman, in 1991.