April 2, 2018 – West Bend, WI – Betty Lou Waala (nee Geib), 90, of West Bend, was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 1, 2018.
Betty was born on December 2, 1927, in Barton, to the late Sarto and Ernestine (nee Immel) Geib. She attended West Bend High School and graduated in the class of 1945. That same year, on April 7, 1945, Betty was united in marriage to Ervin Gerhard Waala Jr. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Barton.
Betty raised 10 children while helping her husband with several businesses that they owned and operated including the Snack Shack which is now Maricios Pizza in Barton, The Wash Line Laundromat, and Waala Wheel and Tire. Betty and Ervin later “retired” to Little Green Lake near Markesan where they ran a motel and rented out cottages returning to West Bend in 2010.
Betty was an avid sports fan who loved the Green Bay Packers. Her interests included gardening and baking, she was known for the abundance of Christmas Cookies she made every year. She was a faithful woman who enjoyed singing in the church choir and making rosaries with the Christian Women club. Above all, Betty loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Betty is survived by her 10 children, Ervin (Susan) Waala III, Samuel (Margaret) Waala, Stephen Waala, Gay (Frank) Heimerl, Gary (Ursula) Waala, Todd Waala, Kay (George) Gudex, Lori Schneider, Michael (Jill) Waala, and David (Shelly) Waala; 35 grandchildren, Andrea, April, Brooke, Katie, Anne, Greg, Luke, Andrew, Angela, Jaime, Michelle, Laura, Christian, Dana, Amy, Kara, Jessica, Travis, Amber, Benjamin, Jason, Tracy, Jason, Tony, Brandon, Grant, Evan, Macie, Bethany, Harrison, Madeline, Hayden, Elijah, Keaton, and Mia-Faith; 23 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Barbara (Dick) Hensen, Mary (Gary) Daley, and Lois (Dan) Guse; two brothers, Paul (Mary Lee) Geib and John Geib; a sister-in-law, Sue Geib; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin “Mickey”; a daughter, Mary Jeanne; her sister, Ann (Roger) Walker; and her brother, Peter Geib.
A Mass of Christian burial in for Betty will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1610 Monroe Street, West Bend. Rev. Nathan Reesman will officiate and burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery on Forests View Road. Visitation will be on Saturday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the mass.
Memorials to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the Alzheimer’s Association would be greatly appreciated by the family.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Serenity Villa for all of the compassionate care that was given to Betty and her family over the past three years.
The Myrhum Patten Miller and Kietzer Funeral Homes have been entrusted with Betty’s arrangements.