Mabel M. Welhouse

Mabel M. (Tiesling) Welhouse, age 99, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2021. Born in Hollandtown, WI, daughter of the late Anton and Bardean (Van Linn) Tiesling, wife of the late Joseph G. Welhouse.

Mabel worked at the Lakeview Mill in Neenah and then as a defense factory worker in Kalamazoo, MI during WWII. Mabel and Joe loved square dancing, spending many hours dancing in the 60’s. In the 70’s she took a Norwegian Rosemaling class at FVTC and became an enthusiastic rosemaling painter going on to win multiple Wisconsin state and national awards including 2nd place nationally at the Vesterheim Museum Nordic Fest. She is on permanent exhibit at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, IA. Some of her famous Norwegian Rosemaling teachers over the years included Nils Ellinsgard, Sigmund Aarseth, Kari Petersen, Bergljot Lunde, Ragnvald Froysadal, Svanhild Langstad, Knut Andersen and others. Her husband Joe was a wonderful carver and woodworker and made many of the birds, bentwood boxes, trunks and tines that Mabel painted.

Mabel is survived by her son Daniel, daughter Jane (Mark) Kuechler, grandson Benjamin Lauer (Sussie DeMello), great grandchildren Isabel and Thomas, numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years Joseph, son Thomas, four sisters: Elsie, Genevieve, Esther and Ruth; five brothers: Sylvester, Clarence, Jacob, Louis and Arthur; sister-in-laws Viola, Rosella, Francis, Julia, their spouses; brother-in-law Johnnie, his wife and many other relatives and friends.

She was a Lifelong member of the St. Therese Parish, and Mass of Christian Burial will be said at St. Therese Catholic Church, 213 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton, on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 11:00am with Father Ryan Starks officiating. There will be no visitation before Mass begins. Private burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. For more information and to express condolences, please visit www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com.

Mabel’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of both Apple Creek Assisted Living, especially Veronica, Kara and Lindsey, and to Southern Care Hospice providers Trudy, Kristen and Chaplain Judy for all their care and support in helping the family through a difficult time.

‘God saw she was getting tired, and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around her, and whispered, “Come with me.” With tearful eyes we watched her suffer and saw her fade away. Although we loved her dearly, we could not make her stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the Best.’

In lieu of flowers, a memorial service will be started by the family. Donations will be given to several of Mabel’s favorite charities.