Ellen Mary Beardsley-Wildeman

We celebrate the life of Ellen Mary Beardsley-Wildeman (Dvorak), 65, who passed away peacefully at her home in Black Creek on February 27th, 2025, after facing Bulbar ALS with grace and resilience.

Ellen’s journey began in La Crosse, WI, where she was born on October 12th, 1958, to Mary and Wenzel Dvorak. She cherished her hometown and the friendships she built there, often reminiscing about the memories that remained close to her heart. She graduated from Aquinas High School in 1977 and attended the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, graduating with a degree in business administration in 1982. Ellen married the love of her life, Marc Wildeman, on March 16th, 2003 in Menasha. They celebrated 21 years of marriage. Ellen pursued a career in media management, working in advertising before retiring from the Karma Group in Green Bay in March of 2022.

Ellen embraced life with passion and joy. A devoted gardener, she found peace in nurturing her plants, sharing them generously with friends and neighbors. Her love for animals, especially her cherished cats and birds, was a constant presence in her life. She had an adventurous spirit, a deep love for travel, and a knack for capturing life's moments through her camera lens. She was known for her playful rule-bending, often scheming ways to "permanently borrow" beer glasses as souvenirs from her journeys. A dedicated bargain hunter, she was always on the lookout for a great deal, no matter where she was. Ellen had an eye for detail and a gift for making everything just right, she ensured that every moment and space around her reflected care and intention.

Above all, Ellen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and dear friend. She poured her heart into her family and brought joy to every gathering. Her kindness, strength, and thoughtfulness will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Ellen is survived by her loving husband, Marc; her sons, Michael (Megan) Beardsley of Appleton and Paul Beardsley of Freedom; her stepdaughter, Seneca (Gary) Bivens, and grandchildren, Chris and Logan of Oshkosh; her mother, Mary Dvorak of La Crosse; her sister, Kathy Scott of La Crosse; her brother, Jim Dvorak of La Crosse; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Wenzel; her brother, Robert; and her brother-in-law, Tom.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the ALS Association, Team Gleason, the ALS Clinic at Mayo Clinic - Rochester and the Larsen-Winchester Lions Club for their compassionate care and support.

A memorial service will be held at Wichmann’s Funeral Home, Appleton on March 29th, 2025 at 1pm with visitation beginning at 12pm. A celebration of Ellen’s life will be held following the service. The internment will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the ALS Association (www.als.org) or Team Gleason (https://teamgleason.org) in her memory.

Ellen’s warmth, love, and adventurous spirit will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her.