Amelia G. Wiegel

Amelia G Wiegel was born on January 23, 1924, the daughter of Bernhard and Amelia (Werle) Schmieder. She was born on the family farm in Willow Township, Crawford County, and died at the age of 99 on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at Gracewell-Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison.

Amelia was baptized at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton and was later confirmed her faith on April 2, 1939, by Pastor Hugo Neiting at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ute. She attended rural schools in Crawford County through the eighth grade and graduated from the Ute High School on April 30, 1942. She then attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Morningside College in Sioux City, and taught in rural schools for five years. She also worked as a substitute teacher at the Charter Oak-Ute Community Schools and Zion Lutheran School. 

On November 27, 1947, Amelia and LaVerne Wiegel were married by Pastor Hugo Neiting at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ute. They farmed Rudolph Heide’s farm in Hanover Township, Crawford County, for 12 years before purchasing a neighboring farm, where they resided until retirement in 1984, moving to a house they built in Charter Oak.

Amelia loved her family and enjoyed being with them. She also enjoyed “doing” for others and working outdoors on her lawn and in her garden. Amelia was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, having taught Sunday School and Confirmation there. She was a member of St. John LWML, Lamplighters, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Charter Oak Public Library.

Amelia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LaVerne; their daughter, Dr. Judy Wiegel; great-grand-daughter, Sophia Welch; son-in-law, William Driscoll; grandson-in-law, Brian Welch; sisters: Marie Newland (Barney); and Hedwig Schnoor (Martin); brothers: Harry Schmieder (Marie); Walter Schmieder (Evelyn); and Benny Schmieder (Ruth); sisters-in-law: Irene Wellner (Herman); Lois Laubscher (Fred); and Millie (Ray); brothers-in-law: Raymond (Helen); Roy (Frances); John (Vera); and Leonard (Gladys).

Survivors include her daughters: Jane Gierstorf and her husband Ladean of Norwalk, Iowa; and Jeri Lynn Driscoll of  Ames, Iowa; son, James Wiegel and his wife Doll of Hastings, Nebraska; seven grandchildren: Emily (John) Trewin of Sheffield, Iowa; David (Heather) Gierstorf of Johnston, Iowa; Shelby Meek (Dustie) of Norwalk, Iowa; Jamie (Scott) Burns of Lincoln, Nebraska; Lindsay (Zach) Frey of Hastings, Nebraska; Whitney (Meghan) Wiegel of Omaha, Nebraska; and Zachary (Samantha) Wiegel of Green, Missouri; four step-grandchildren: Bill Driscoll of Saukville, Wisconsin; Joel (Jeannie) Driscoll of Versailles, Missouri; Tom (Joyce) Driscoll of Ames, Iowa; and Erin (Mark) Feaker of Story City, Iowa; granddaughter-in-law, June Driscoll of Port Washington, Wisconsin; nineteen great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, as well as other relatives, and friends.

Visitation with Family Greeting Friends will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 with a Funeral Service starting at 11:00 a.m., all at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak. Interment will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Charter Oak. Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Hour, or Gracewell-Eventide Lutheran Home.  Cards may be mailed to 1306 Kellogg Ave, Ames, IA  50010.