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Ethel Marie Bacon

1908 - 2002

Ethel M. Bacon
1908 - 2002

Longtime Klemme resident, Ethel M. (Wellemeyer) Bacon, 93, most recently of McHenry and Lake Zurich, Ill., died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2002 at the Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, Ill.

Mrs. Bacon was a resident at the McHenry Villa, McHenry, Ill., and the Lexington Health Care Center, Lake Zurich, Ill., since Aug. 2001 to be near her daughter, JoAnn.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec 9, at the United Methodist Church in Klemme. The Rev. Paddy Druhl officiated. Music was provided by organist Margaret Tue who accompanied soloist Lance Arnold and congregational hymns. Calvin Bruggeman and John Schwichtenberg were ushers.

Casket bearers were Cindy Bacon, Tom Jacobs, Glen Gustafson, Jason Bacon, Robert Gustafson and Barbara Gustafson.

Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. The Tenold-Andrews Funeral Home of Klemme was in charge of arrangements.

Ethel Marie Bacon was born Dec. 7, 1908, in Klemme, the daughter of Arthur and Lydia (Griewe) Wellemeyer. She grew up in Klemme and graduated from high school in 1927. She attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and received the two-year Primary Education Certificate. She taught two years in Ell Township rural schools and then Titonka and Buffalo Center. After her marriage she taught school in Austin, Texas, and at Lake Mills and Klemme.

On June 4, 1935, she was united in marriage to Donald LeRoy Bacon in Klemme at her parents home. The couple farmed near Thompson and Lake Mills. They also lived in Lake Mills and Klemme where they owned and operated the Wellemeyer Funiture Store.

Ethel was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church in Klemme where she was active in the United Methodist Women's organization. Over the years she held many UMW offices. She belonged to a church circle, sang in the Choir and taught Sunday school. During her active years, she was a member of Eastern Star, the Grandmother's Club, the Senior Citizen's Club and several card clubs. Her hobbies included making quilts, knitting and playing golf.

Survivors include her daughter, JoAnn (Don) Jacobs of Palatine, Ill.; a son, Charles (Donna) Bacon of Centennial, Colo.; four grandchildren, Barbara (nee Jaobs) (Glenn) Gustafson of Round Lake, Ill.; Thomas (Linda) Jacobs of Fox Lake, Ill.; Jason Bacon of Centennial, Colo.; and Cindy Bacon of Denver, Colo; and five great-grandchildren.

Survivors also include two surviving sisters. Ruth Janson of Titonka, and Nora (Dick) Mohler, Sebring, Fla.; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, in August, 1992; her parents, Arthur and Lydia Wellemeyer; one brother, Andrew Wellemeyer; and one sister, Clarice Carlson.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 11 Dec 1002, page 4, column 1

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Ethel Marie Bacon, 93, formerly of Klemme, died Dec. 4, 2002 at Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, IL. Services were held Dec. 9 at the Klemme United Methodist Church with burial in Ell Township Cemetery.

Ethel was born Dec. 7, 1908 in Klemme, the daughter of Arthur and Lydia Griewe Wellemeyer. She attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) for two years and taught school near Klemme, Titonka, Buffalo Center and Lake Mills.

She married Donald LeRoy Bacon in 1935 in Klemme. They lived in Lake Mills, Thompson and Klemme. They farmed and for a time ran Wellemeyer Furniture.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, brother Andrew Wellemeyer, and sister Clarice Carlson.

Survivors include her daughter JoAnn (Don) Jacobs of Palatine, IL, and son Charles (Donna) Bacon of Centennial CO; and sisters Ruth Hanson of Titonka and Nora (Dick) Mohler of Florida.

source: Independent, Belmond, Iowa, 17 December 2000

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