“It’s OK to be fabulous and flawed” the wrapper of Dove chocolate declared. I couldn’t help but think of my sister, Marcia Helleck Wiese. I think she was fabulous and fun. Her eyes had the most brilliant color combination of green, yellow and brown and they sparkled when she smiled at you. She was beautiful and lanky with a head of strawberry blonde hair until cancer treatments took it. Cancer flawed her body and her mind in the end. We will all miss you terribly Marcia.

Marcia Wiese, of Blooming Prairie, born Jan. 7, 1953, died peacefully at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, on July 27, 2014. Marcia’s husband, Dave Wiese, died of cancer five years ago.

Her daughter, Molly Wiese and friend John Bain; and her son, Matt Wiese and friend Jen Dalager are surviving. Marcia loved spending time with her four grandchildren, Emily, Zach, Lillian, and Izzabelle, all of whom lived nearby. Our mom, Marilyn Helleck still lives on the farm that we grew up on south of Blooming Prairie. Our dad, Myron Helleck passed away in February of this year. Our oldest sister, Marcine Nelson, lives in Coon Valley, Wisconsin. Her husband passed away in January. Our youngest sister, Marsue Anderson, lives in Columbia Heights, and I, Michelle Carlson, live in Lakeville with my husband, Phil. Our only brother, Mark died in 1973 at 19. We know that we are surrounded by many additional loving family and friends that grieve with us at the loss of someone so special.

The family wishes to specially thank Janie Bishop, her husband Craig, and Vikki Blom for the loving care you demonstrated for Marcia during her battle with cancer!

Marcia and Dave married in the fall of 1971. They lived next to the A&W in Austin before moving to the Helleck homestead in 1989. Together, they cleaned up the woods, remodeled the old farm house and worked on the yard. Marcia had a passion for gardening and her yard became a gardener’s showpiece. She was an accomplished gardener, seamstress, and cook. Her pies were delicious. Her breakfast egg bake was not to be missed at the annual Helleck family reunion. She loved the family reunion. In fact, she enjoyed every opportunity to spend time with friends and family. She recently retired from International Paper and before that she ran a drapery business with her mother-in-law, Marie Wiese.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4, at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church. Condolences may be expressed to Marcia’s family before the service at 9 a.m. Honorariums may be sent to Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church.