Grace Mary (Ristow) Wege

Our beautiful mother Grace, 94, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2023, at The Gardens of Fountain Way, Menasha. She was born April 28, 1929 in Appleton, WI to Gustav Ristow and Hattie (Kleuskens) Ristow. Grace attended St. Mary’s grade school and graduated from Appleton High School, class of 1947. She married her husband of over 30 years Richard K. Wege on May 6, 1950 in Appleton. She was a professional waitress at Butte Des Mort’s Country Club for more than ten years. Grace was a life long member of St. Mary’s Parish in Appleton. She was a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Parish Ladies Society. Grace was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a long time loyal Chicago Cubs fan.

She is survived by 5 of her children, Ric W. (Theresa) Wege, Mississippi; Rockney J. (Patricia) Wege, Neenah; Rochelle M. “Shelly” (Keith) Gerrits, Kimberly; Rusty J. (Linda) Wege, Oshkosh; Rhonda M. Grein, Menasha; Daughter-in-law, Sandra L. Wege, Appleton. She is also survived by her 8 grandchildren, Joy E. (Bobby) Hussey, Florida; Robert G. (Shonna) Wege, Louisiana; Jennifer L. Wege, Louisiana; Jacqueline M. (Scott) Hardy, Louisiana; Aaron B. (Paige) Wege, Appleton; Abigail M. Wege, Greenville, Meagan M. McCune, Menasha; and 9 great grandchildren, Brielle A. Hussey, Florida; Lily G. Wege, Louisiana; Maxx J. Wege, Louisiana; Avin G. Stegall, Louisiana; Jossy G. Stegall, Louisiana; Isabella L. Hardy, Louisiana; Terra J. Hardy, Louisiana; Cora M. Wege, Appleton; Abram B. Wege, Appleton. 7 step-grandchildren, Jennie L. (Christopher) Woreck, Appleton; Benjamin M. (Randi) Busse, Appleton; Matthew T. Busse, Racine; Brad A. Brown, Neenah; Matthew S. Brown, Oshkosh; Joshua P. (Fiancé Tabitha) Brown, Appleton; Rachel L. (Courtney) Franzen, Menasha; and 7 step-great-grandchildren, Cal M. Woreck, Appleton; Molly J. Woreck, Appleton; Bailey J. Simoneaux, Louisiana; Madyson Latham, Appleton; Adriana L. Pelky, Hortonville; Fisher W. Franzen, Menasha; Sophia L. Franzen, Menasha; and many nieces and nephews. She is further survived by special friends Bernie Wege, Louisiana; Will Kruse, Appleton; Patricia Melis, Appleton; Joyce Nyman, Appleton; and Michael McCune, Neenah.

Grace was preceded in death by her former husband, Richard K. Wege; son, Robin R. Wege; sister, Bernice (Leo) Muraski; Mary Jane (Joseph) Stumpf; Elayne (Lloyd) Schabow; Carole Ristow; brothers, Gordon (Janet) Ristow; Arvin Ristow; three infant siblings, Melvin W., Ione R., and Kenneth W. Ristow; daughter-in-law, Ellen M. Wege; grandson, Nicholas A. Wege; and great-grandchild, Ezra Stegall.

A mass will be held for Grace on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, 312 S. State St., Appleton. The mass will be officiated by Father Bill Swichtenberg at 11:00 AM. Friends and family may gather at the church from 9:00 AM until the start of service. For those unable to attend, Grace's funeral service can be watched by clicking the link below.

We are especially thankful to all of the amazing staff from Pro Medica Hospice and The Gardens of Fountain Way who tenderly cared for our mother.

I leave you the years I should like to have lived so that I might possibly see whether your generation will bring love and peace in your families. I not only hope you will, I will pray that you will. I leave you not everything I never had, but everything I had in my lifetime: A good family, respect for learning, compassion for my fellow man and some four letter words for all occasions, words like Help, Give, Care, Feel and Love.

Love Always, Mom