Marcella Wutschke

Published 12:00 am Monday, June 7, 2010

Marcella Irene Wutschke, 91, passed away peacefully at Comforts of Home in River Falls, Wis. on May 24, 2010. She was united with her Lord, beloved husband Edgar, and son Keith.
Marcella was born on Oct. 31, 1918 to parents Anna (Hanson) and William Exelby, Jr. in rural Austin. She was the youngest of five children. Marcella’s father died from influenza shortly after her birth. Her mother married Theodore Steile and with that union, 10 additional siblings were born.
In the late 1930s, Marcella married Clayton Kamp. They were blessed with three daughters: Sharon, Barbara and Carolyn. On Feb. 1, 1947, Marcella married her true love, Edgar Wutschke. The couple was blessed with two children, Linda and Keith.
Marcella is survived by her four daughters and a son-in-law: Linda and Bruce Speer of Hudson, Wis., Carolyn Hovgaard of East Bethel, Minn., Barbara Williamson of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Sharon Bartlett of Oakdale, Minn.; nine grandchildren, Kris, Kari, Julie, Jody, Scott, Kim, Kristina, Bridget and Brenda; 20 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters and a brother-in-law, Shirley Fjerstad of Blaine, Minn. and Eileen and Clifford Valez of Robbinsdale, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Marcella was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Edgar Wutschke in 1993, and son, Keith Wutschke in 1972; six brothers and six sisters; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Marcella lived most of her life in Mower County, attending school and church in Austin. In the mid 1950s she and Edgar moved to Brownsdale with the desire to raise their children in a small community. While living there, Marcella was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, and actively participated and volunteered for the children’s school events. In 1969, they moved back to Austin. Following Edgar’s retirement in 1978, they spent summers and early fall at Shore Acres Resort on Lake Mille Lacs. In 2001, she moved to western Wisconsin to be closer to family.
Over the years, Marcella enjoyed selling Avon and her occasional work as a home health aide. When at Shore Acres, she “helped out” in the lodge kitchen and dining. She enjoyed fishing, cooking, campfires, conversation, and singing. Marcella also loved to sew, knit, and crochet; she took great pride in giving away her creations. For recreation she played bingo and was a member of a card club. She had a large vegetable garden and was known for her dill pickles. But above all else, Marcella was a homemaker, a devoted wife, and a loving mother. She especially enjoyed holidays with Edgar’s family.
Marcella will be laid to rest on Friday, June 18, at 1:30 p.m. in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Austin. Pastor Tom Ogilvie of St. John’s Lutheran Church will officiate. A gathering of friends and family will follow the burial at Bandshell Community Park, Veteran’s Pavilion. Lunch and refreshments will be served.
The family would like to thank the staff at River Falls Comforts of Home – Dementia Unit for the exceptional care and love provided the past two years to their dear mother and grandmother.
Arrangements were entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Countryside Crematory.

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