On Friday, July 26, 2024 Athelene Simon left this world to join others of her family who have gone before her.
Athelene was born on June 11, 1930, along with twin sister Imogene in Echo, Minnesota, to Henry and Alpha Rose Pingel. Athelene and her family lived in the Sioux Agency in Minnesota then on a farm where everyone helped and enjoyed being together. She attended a one-room school house until eighth grade, then continued her education at Echo High School, in Echo, Minn. She had a wonderful childhood playing with family and friends. After graduating from high school, she met Frank Simon and was married, and to them five children were born.
Athelene loved to care for her flowers, which were always huge, and garden. She also worked outside of home at Fabritek, Duncan Yo-Yo, and U.S Bedding until retiring. All the while working alongside Frank taking care of the farm, logging and raising the family. She raised two families as she helped raise four grandchildren, which made her proud, and says those grandkids kept her young at heart.
Athelene moved to an apartment in 2016, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She made many new friends to walk, talk and play games with. She bought a car so she could get groceries and go to church. She was so proud. Watching the birds through the years had become a passion she enjoyed so much.
She moved to the Christian Community Home in Osceola in later years, where she enjoyed the staff and doing crafts, playing Bingo, pennies in the middle and working on a puzzle every night after supper. She has been putting together a puzzle almost every other day for the past nine years. That's a lot of puzzles.
Athelene loved her children, grandkids and great-grandkids dearly. They used to go sliding, and she holds the record, with her red sled always being the fastest down the hills, and she even tried riding a dirt bike. She would take us on walks as children and then the grandchildren, teach them to bake, canning, which she loved, picking berries, sitting outside and watching the clouds and seeing what shapes they could be. Family get-togethers were a favorite of hers.
She will be truly missed.
Athelene is survived by her twin sister, Imogene Stickney; sister, Beryl Kleaver; brother, John Pingel; son, Mike and his wife, Kathy Simon; Jean and her husband, Tom Moats; Vern Simon and his wife, Dee Powers; John Simon and his wife, Beth; Jeffrey Simon; grandchildren, Stephanie and Lee Liebke, Kristina Moats and Mike Sundeen, Nathaniel and Tia Moats, Alexandria and Carlos Marques, Brie and Corbin Webster, Micah Simon and Berret Wines, Nik and Meghan Simon, Jonathon and Emily Simon, Tanya Wrich and Brian Houdek, Tim Wrich, AJ and Jessie Simon, Cassie and Daniel Voight, Chelsie Simon and Samar Husain, Zach and Nicole Simon; great-grandchildren, Tatum and Teagan, Kira and Willa, Neko, Lake and Birdie, Grace and Scout, Harper and Desmond, Halley, Xander, Huxley, Lainey and Oakley, Kadence Simon and Brantley Voight, Ellsa and Liam Simon.
Preceded in death by husband, Frank; parents, Henry and Alpha Rose Pingel; brothers William and Calvin; and sister, Carol.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 3, at 11 a.m., at the Faith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. Gathering will be held at the Church from 10 to 11 a.m.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories, and photos at rowefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Rowe Funeral Home in Luck, 715-472-2444, and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center, in Milltown, nwwicrematoncenter.com.
