Sheila Marie Wengert

Sheila Marie Wengert, 89, peacefully passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2022, in Sioux City, IA surrounded by several of her children.

Visitation will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 2 with Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. all at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Morningside Chapel. Funeral is 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 3 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Mater Dei Parish. Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Sheila was born September 23, 1933, in Whittemore, IA to Frank and Ella Rochford (Kollasch) and had two brothers Tom and Jerry. Later moving to a farm in Lawler, IA and eventually to a home in New Hampton, IA. She often shared fond memories of growing up in a home with a strong Catholic faith.

Sheila was particularly gifted academically and graduated with highest honors from Lawler High School. She went on to Briar Cliff College to study nursing where she graduated Summa Kum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Nursing.

She married William Joseph Wengert in 1955 in New Hampton, IA. They purchased their first home in Sioux City, one block from Immaculate Conception Church and School. Sheila and Bill raised ten children in that house on Ridge Avenue. Her family life was focused on faith, education, sports activities, and caring for others.

Sheila was an amazing artist, fantastic cook, and sincere listener. Many family members and neighbors often reached out to her for advice and counsel. She had an amazing talent to make everyone feel special and heard. Sheila cross stitched some of the most beautiful pieces of artwork which were proudly displayed in the nurseries of each of her grandchildren. Creating a beautiful and loving home just came naturally to Sheila, creating many core memories for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Upon graduation from Briar Cliff, Sheila taught nursing at Saint Joseph’s School of Nursing. Her nursing career was well over 50 years at Sioux City’s St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital, and eventually at Mercy Hospital. She held many positions at the hospital and excelled at all of them.

Most of all, Sheila was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She was loyal, trusting, supportive, gracious, and kind and did it all with the most wonderful sense of humor. She had a fabulous competitive spirit and taught us all to put one’s best effort forth always. Sheila was very vocal about how God has blessed her with a beautiful family, good health, and mental sharpness until the last few days of her life.

She is survived by her children: daughter MaryBeth Madison (husband Rick) of Kenosha, WI, son Tim Wengert of Marshfield, WI, son John Wengert (wife Sue) of Des Moines, IA, daughter Ellen Wengert of Sioux City, IA, son Tom Wengert (wife Paula) of Ames, IA, daughter Diane Wengert of Phoenix, AZ, son Billy Wengert (wife Shannon) of Lake Quivira, KS, and son Donny Wengert (wife Katie) of Des Moines IA.
Twenty-three grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.

Sheila will be sorely missed, and her legacy will carry on through her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren that she leaves behind. She was preceded in death by her husband William Joseph Wengert, her daughter Margaret Anne Wengert and son Mark William Wengert.