Alice Westemeier
Alice “Mom” Westemeier, wife of Allen “Dick” Westemeier, sister, loving mother, and caretaker. Alice was born June 15th, 1939, in Wacousta, WI, living on a farm with her parents and two sisters, Catherine and Helen. She married Allen Westemeier on September 26, 1959, moving to Eden WI, to start their life and family together. There they began their family… their very large family of 17 children and many more foster children. Children include Rodger (Donna), Regina (Chris), Bill (Robbie), Renee (Pat), Mary (Mike), Jane (the late Mike), Richard (Lora), the late Lisa, David (Tammy), Amy (Dan), Jerry, Shawn (Beth) Allison, Kari (Todd), Ryon (Chelsea), and Amber, (see the family forest (lol) for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren). She is also survived by sisters Catherine (Tom) Smith, Helen (the late Jim) Sgambati, Cousin Janet Narges, brother-in-law Bob (Betty) Westemeier, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Alice was preceded in death by her parents William and Irma Narges, her loving husband Allen, her daughter Lisa. She passed away unexpectedly on May 13th. We are thankful for the compassionate care provided by ThedaCare nurses and staff.
Alice spent her life taking care of others, advocating for those with disabilities, and contributing all that she could to the community. She received her LPN license and started working in the Pediatric ward at St. Agnes in Fond Du Lac, WI. Through her experience as a school nurse in the Campbellsport School District and foster parenting, she began her lifelong advocacy for the special needs community. This included being a founding member of the Campbellsport Enrichment Program, the ARC of Fond Du Lac, as well as becoming one of the first in-home parent trainers through Fond du lac county Social Services.
She was active on various boards including The state of Wisconsin department of health and human services advisory board appointed by Tommy Thompson, fostering and adoptive parenting organizations, United Commercial Travelers, and ARC of Fond Du Lac County.
She was the recipient of numerous awards including:
– Certificate of Foster Parent Recognition
– Fond du Lac County’s Outstanding Woman of the Year 1974/1975
– Article written December 10, 1974, Reporter; article about mom and dad fostering.
– Documentary, Wanted: A Room With Love, 1985
– Wisconsin State Council Knights of Columbus, “Family of the Year”, 1995
– 1996 Knights of Columbus International Family of the Year First Runner-up
– March 1995, “12 Who Care” award winner, Channel 12 News/Marty Burns Wolfe
– Grange (Rising Sun) of Oshkosh, Community Citizen Award, August 2000
– Family Service Award, The ARC of Fond du Lac, February 1999
– Milwaukee Diocesan Family of the month November 2005, Knights of Columbus
– State of Wisconsin, DHS, Certificate for participation in Aging and Developmental Disabilities: Focused on Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
– The queen of Casserole and the infamous zucchini soup
In her spare time (hahaha) she enjoyed: gardening, PBS and British humor, antiquing, refinishing furniture, caning, and her time in “traffic school”. Alice always had an open-door policy. Friends were always welcome including the railroaders working on holidays.
We would also like to thank David and Teresa Walton and her neighbors, for always looking out for her and the girls.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 20, 2021 from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Twohig Funeral Home, 109 W Main Street Campbellsport, WI. 53010. The second visitation will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021 from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, 705 Michigan Ave, North Fond Du Lac, WI 54937 with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 am. Burial will be at St. Matthews Cemetery in Campbellsport.
Twohig Funeral Home is serving the family with online guestbook and condolences at www.twohigfunerals.com.