Frances Huebel

Frances A. Huebel, age 86, of Spring Valley, died Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Spring Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Visitation for Frances will be from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28 at Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley.  There will be a prayer service at 7:45 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral service will be Wednesday, February 29, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spring Valley with Fr. Kevin Louis officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery, Spring Valley.
Frances A. Huebel, age 86, beloved Wife and Mother died Saturday February 25, 2012 at the Spring Valley Health Care Center with family around.

Frances was born February 9, 1926 to Thomas and Susanna Donnelly in the Village of Elmwood. She attended and graduated Olivet School. Frances worked at the Candy Kitchen as a waitress in River Falls later at a restaurant in Menomonie, and then traveled to California where she lived and worked as a waitress in Long Beach. Having met and known Leo Huebel before she left Wisconsin, they were re-united in California when Leo was discharged from the US Army Air Corps in 1945.  Leo and Frances returned to Wisconsin and were married September 24, 1946. They lived on the family farm where they were blessed with nine children.

As Leo worked the farm, Frances helped out for a while until the first of nine children was born. This began her unending journey to becoming a dedicated Mother. Cooking for nine children, a husband, and threshing crews on occasion, soon earned the title, according to her family, the best cook in Pierce County. Relatives would stop by unexpectedly and she would go the refrigerator, and in no time would have prepared a feast for any number of people. No one ever left her home hungry. The aroma of freshly baked bread every other day filled the neighborhood. When time allowed she was a volunteer election poll worker for the town of El Paso. Frances was a committed member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lost Creek, St. Joseph Parish in El Paso, and Sacred Heart Parish in Spring Valley.

In 1977 Frances and Leo built their retirement home on their farmland. This allowed them time to travel. After fifty-eight years of marriage, Frances lost Leo on February 25, 2005. From then on her time was spent keeping up with her children; actually her children had to run to keep up with her. Frances loved being with people and people loved being with her. Her sense of humor and wit put a smile on the face of everyone she met.

In 2007 Frances' life long dream came true when she traveled to Ireland accompanied by her three daughters, three grandchildren, two of her sons-in-law, and a few good friends. In 2008 Frances takes another trip to her Granddaughter's destination wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic accompanied by more family. How fortunate we were to have traveled with this little Irish lady.   Her favorite pastime was to play cards, euchre that is. She was quoted as saying " I'd rather play cards than eat". Frances loved being with her children and grandchildren. She always felt best when preparing and sharing a meal with them. In later years it was just to have them around and to be able to go places with them.

Frances is survived by her nine children: Gary (Vee) of Castle Rock, CO; Roger (Bev) of Cambridge; Diane (Rich O'Connell) of Spring Valley; Robert (Gwen) of Elmwood; Steve (Vicki) of Ellsworth; Dan (Neth) of Mount Vernon, Il; Julie (Dave) Ducklow of Spring Valley; Pat (Angie) of Columbus, IN; Mary (Mark) Hartman of Eau Claire; one sister Marlys (Bob) Flynn of Hager City; two sisters-in-law LaVine Donnelly of Jefferson and Olga Donnelly of Zapata, TX; 24 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren (soon to be 25); many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo, parents Thomas and Susanna Donnelly and seven of her brothers and sisters.

In 2010 Frances left her long time family farm home and moved to the Spring Valley Villas where after a brief transition, warmed up to her new home surrounded by her new friends, most of which played euchre. She became ill and had a difficult time leaving behind the people, the fun and her family. Our little Irish lady is now with her everlasting life companion, our Dad, and lives in the peace of our Lord. God Bless you Mom and Grandma.

Friends may call from 4-8 pm on Tuesday at Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley, with a prayer service at 7:45 pm, and from 9:30 till 10:30 prior to Mass which is Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spring Valley. (www.keehrfuneralhome.com)