DELAVAN/WATERTOWN- Frieda Bertha Emma (Wegner) Vette, age 95, of Delavan, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. She was born on September 6, 1922 in Weitendorf, Germany, the daughter of Karl and Martha (Hopner) Wegner.
Frieda was a very young girl when her mother passed away; being raised by her father for most of her young life. She fell in love with a German soldier, Kurt Vette. The two were united in marriage on January 5, 1945 in Weitendorf, Germany, enjoying one another for 45 blessed years. Together they began their life farming in Ahrenshagen, Germany. They had two beautiful children Heinz and Gerda Vette. In 1953, during harsh times when the communists took over greatly in East Germany, Frieda and her family decided to leave their East German home and farm to make the difficult journey to West Germany. Family in West Germany assisted Frieda’s family through these times. They eventually immigrated to the United States. In October 1954, Frieda and her family boarded a ship from Bremen, Germany and arrived in Hoboken, NJ. After going through immigration formalities, they traveled by train to Chicago, IL meeting up with extended family. Soon after, Frieda and her family settled in Elkhorn, WI and continued in the farming business. They farmed in both the Elkhorn and Whitewater areas until 1968, then moving to Watertown, WI to farm over the next 40 plus years. In late 2014, Frieda moved to Vintage on the Ponds in Delavan where she resided until entering into eternal life.
Frieda had a very giving and gentle spirit and was known affectionately as “Oma” to her family and others. She was a hardworking, compassionate, unselfish, caring, and supportive woman who provided unconditional love to all her family and those around her. She will be remembered for her love of flowers, gardening, and birds (her most favorite, the cardinal). Her German cooking and baking brought great joy in her life; it could be smelled from her home all the way to the farm. She was always baking goodies for her grandchildren. All will remember “Oma” for her love of the outdoors and farming. She adored feeding the young calves and in the summers driving the big wide open International Harvester tractor. Faith was very important to her. She had been a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Watertown. Her Spirit and grace continues to live in all who know her.
Frieda is survived by her son, Heinz (Rita) Vette of Watertown and daughter, Gerda (Dave Lyons) Vette of Delavan; nine grandchildren, Nieves (Sharon) Gonzalez, Dena Vette, Pepe (Rebecca) Gonzalez, Pamela (Rande) Burgardt, Kimberly (Jorge) Avila, Amy (Dexter) Chambers, Mark Vette, Michelle (Jason) Jaeckel, and Stephen Gonzalez; 17 great grandchildren, Katelyn, Kaely, Madelyn, Abigail, Eric, Christian, Alyson, Emma, Luis, Amelia, Claire, Amber, Roland, Deven, Isaac, Trent, and Hannah; her sister, Anna (Wegner) Schulz of Germany; her half-sisters, Margot W. Boldt and Brunhilde W. Stahlberg of Germany; many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Frieda was preceded in death by her husband Kurt; her parents; her siblings, Karl Wegner, Eliesabeth W. Schwenk, Amanda W. Ahrens, Bertha Wegner, Richard Wegner, and Fritz Wegner; and other relatives.
The family would like to thank those who cared for Frieda at Vintage on the Ponds and St. Croix Hospice.
Memorials may be directed to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, or the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at adrc.wisc.edu
A funeral service will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 215 N. 6th St. in Watertown, WI. Visitation will be held from 2:30 P.M. until the time of service on Tuesday at the church. Private burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery in Sharon at a later date. MONROE FUNERAL HOME in Delavan is assisting the family. Please visit us at delavanfuneralhome.com
