Gay Wiebe

Wiebe, Gay L.

Fitchburg:  Gay Lorraine Wiebe passed away from the vagaries of Parkinson’s Disease on January 23, 2020 surrounded with her loving family.  Gay was born July 4, 1944 in La Crosse, WI, the daughter of John and Lorraine (Fink) Fox.   She was a graduate of Aquinas High School in La Crosse, and later received her BA in Teaching from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

Gay married Donald Wiebe in La Crosse July 2, 1966.  She began her career teaching 6th graders at Lincoln Grade School, while Don finished his degree at La Crosse State.  Gay and Don moved to Iowa City in 1967 driving their new Volkswagen Bug that cost $1759.00 brand new in 1967.   She  taught 6th grade at Roosevelt Elementary until 1972.   Gay took a break from her teaching career to raise her children, James and Kate.  She later resumed her teaching in Snellville, Georgia, where she taught from 1982-1984.  Gay went on to teach at Cherokee Middle school where she taught from 1988 until her retirement in 2004.  She was devoted to each and every student she taught throughout her teaching career.

Gay was a devoted wife and mother that spent almost every Sunday and holiday preparing delicious Sunday Funday meals for her family and friends.  She was always there for her family and cherished every moment she spent with them.  Gay was a brave and courageous woman that lived life to the fullest, even after her Parkinson’s diagnosis.  She was a member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, and enjoyed her involvement with the Sweet Adelines and Sound of Madison.  She also was a proud member of Alpha Phi Sorority.

Gay is survived by her husband, Donald Wiebe, son James Wiebe, daughter Katherine Wiebe (Zach Zaricor),  granddaughter Lilly Wiebe, and grandsons, Mason and Stetson Zaricor,  sister Peg (Doug) MacKay, brother Patrick  (Carol) Meighen, sister-in-laws; Susie Fox, Cheryl (Chuck) Leiferman, Karen Wiebe, Nancy Wiebe, and Betty Thomas, and brother in law, James Wiebe.  She is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews and their families, and many, many friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, John L. and Lorraine Fox, a sister Joan (Fox) Rassmusen, brother Mark Fox, brother-in-laws Robert Wiebe, Roger Wiebe, Charles Thomas, and Roger Rassmusen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 7, 2020 at ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison with Father Bill Van Wagner presiding. A visitation will precede the Mass, at church, from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Burial and a luncheon will follow at church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Agrace, Wisconsin Parkinson’s Association or a charity of your choice.

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