Georgene Wegener

Georgene Wegener, of Verona, WI passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 while recovering from a recent hospitalization. She was 83. Inside every older woman is a younger one wondering what the hell happened, and that was Georgene. Sharp, funny, and fiercely opinionated to the end.

She never stopped missing her late husband Fred, who preceded her in death by five years. They were married nearly 58 years, and raised three daughters of whom they were extremely proud: Leslie the writer, Inger the teacher, and Carey the public servant. Becoming grandparents to Caitlin and Ross brought them both great joy, tradition-filled summer visits, and countless games of Yahtzee. Son-in-law Scott Chiples was the only person Georgene would happily cook with on holidays.

Georgene’s life revolved around her family, her beloved dogs, and the handsome home she and Fred built in the country where once stood a cornfield. Overseeing her now mature landscape, and enhancing it over three decades, was Georgene’s magnificent obsession. Her vision and spirit are imprinted in every tree, every border, every wall and path and space she created for the enjoyment of self and family.

As every gardener knows, to everything there is a season. Georgene was a private person and her request for no services will be honored by her grieving daughters. They know her good long life was made better by too many people to mention: a small but loving extended family, friends old and new, Madison neighbors, Verona neighbors, the children she tutored, the volunteers she served with, and the helpers she met along the way.

Those who wish to celebrate their memories of Georgene are invited to make a gift to the Dane County Humane Society or the Belleville Area EMS.