Ann Elaine (Geiermann) Wickenheiser, age 87 of Carleton, passed away on Monday, November 8, 2021. Born January 12, 1934 in Detroit, Elaine was the daughter of the late R. Frederick and Edna (Corcoran) Geiermann. The family moved to Youngstown, OH where Elaine attended elementary school until the family returned to Carleton and she completed junior high at St. Patrick School. After graduating from St. Mary Academy in 1951, Elaine attended County Normal College where she received her teaching certificate. She taught at Herkimer School and then became the first lay teacher at St. Patrick School, teaching first grade. She later coached girls' CYO sports at St. Patrick's and taught third grade catechism for many years.
On June 13, 1953, Elaine married Herman W. Wickenheiser at St. Patrick Catholic Church. They enjoyed 64 years together before his death in 2018. Together they raised 11 children teaching the satisfaction of hard work. Elaine had a talent and passion for restoring historic homes which she passed down to her children and grandchildren and was most proud of the St. Mary farmhouses on N. Custer that she restored. She was resourceful, determined, and the word "impossible" was not in her vocabulary.
Elaine was a member of Divine Grace Parish (St. Patrick Church) where she served on the Administration Commission, various committees, and was directly involved in the church renovation of 1981. She was also a 4-H leader, member of Neighborhood Garden Club since 1958, and Moose Lodge 884. Her other interests included garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, landscape design, vegetable gardening, trips to the casinos and pulling weeds. She had a love for the outdoors whether it be working in the yard or sitting in her deer blind up north. She also enjoyed Arizona sunshine where she and Herman spent their winters.
She was an avid sports enthusiast whether it be playing softball or watching local sports on TV. Her biggest regret was not learning to play golf until she was 70. She loved the game and played every chance she got well into her 80's.
Most of all Elaine loved her family and time spent with them. She loved family gatherings, weekly card games, visits with the grandchildren and attending their sporting events. She and Herman took their entire family on a Disney Cruise for their 50th anniversary and provided a Christmas tradition for decades of ski trips to Tree Tops until the Covid pandemic. These are family memories that the children and grandchildren will always hold dear.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by siblings, Frederic "Bud" Geiermann, Mary Alice (Richard) Klaes and Margaret Ann Geiermann.
To cherish her memory, she leaves her children: Margaret (Bruce MacBride) Sroka, John (Deirdre) Wickenheiser, Mary (Terry Moody) Wickenheiser, Charlene (Dave) Ryder, Dolores (Bill) Stotz, Janice (Chuck) Byron, Gerald (Mandy Rogers) Wickenheiser, Patrick (MaryEllen) Wickenheiser, James (Jodie) Wickenheiser, Kenneth Wickenheiser, and Dr. Kevin (Sarah) Wickenheiser, 31 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Mildred Geiermann and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank Tina VanWasshenova and Pam Gardner for the loving care and companionship extended to their mother these past few months.
Family and friends may visit from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 11, 2021, at Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd, where the Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. by Deacon Michael Stewart. She will lie in state at 10 a.m. Friday at Divine Grace Parish in Carleton. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. by Rev. Fr. David P. Baltz, MCCJ, followed by burial at St. Patrick Cemetery. The family requests that all visitors wear facial covering while attending the visitation and funeral mass.
Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Patrick School in lieu of flowers as Catholic education was so important to Elaine and Herman.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com .