Obituary: https://www.chetekalert.com/people/obituaries/article_68382b4f-937d-4949-83c3-063ffc701a65.html
Ellen (Ammentorp) Zwiefelhofer
Apr 23, 2025 Updated Apr 23, 2025 0
At 102 years and eight months young, Ellen Marie (Ammentorp) Zwiefelhofer of Cooks Valley passed away April 22, 2025, at Dove Healthcare in Bloomer. She was surrounded by family in a room filled with goodbyes and laughter to honor her full life.
Ellen was born in Withee, Wisconsin, on August 20, 1922, and was the daughter of Thorvald and Clara (Lang) Ammentorp. She met, and later married, Frank X. Zwiefelhofer on October 25, 1945, in Chippewa Falls, WI. They had five children; James (Marion) of Bloomer, Diane Satter of Bloomer, Linda (Ted) Derks of Chippewa Falls, Barb (Rudy) Edwards of Birchwood and Kathy (Fred) Langman of Chetek; 13 grandkids, Joe Satter, Rhonda (Sam) Cantrall, Karla (Brian) Smetana, Kris Rada, Tammy (Steve) Niebling, Tom (Michele) Zwiefelhofer, Traci Schoonover, Michelle (Graham) Hicks, Melinda Derks, Brenda (Gabe) Swoboda, Trisha (Jon) Schmidt, Lorree (Gunner) Langman, Aimee (Brian) Barta; and step-grandson, Chad (Jean) Edwards. Also, 24 great-grandkids with one on the way; five great-great grandkids and two on the way; five step-grandkids and six great step-grandkids. What a family - she would tell you too many to count but could tell you all their names and had room in her heart for each and every one.
Ellen worked a variety of jobs before she launched her military service. She worked in laundry at Sacred Heart Hospital, an ammunition factory, egg factory, and then moved to Milwaukee where she worked at International Harvester as a milling machine operator. In 1944, Ellen joined the U.S. Women’s Army Corps. She served from July 10, 1944, until November 18, 1945, when she completed her Basic Motor Pool training at Fort Oglethorpe, GA. She was then stationed at Fort Sheraton driving military officers in the motor pool as a Truck Driver Light. When Frank was discharged from the Army, they married while she was on furlough and went back to receive her official honorable discharge papers to start their life together.
Frank and Ellen farmed in Howard Township, where she raised their five children whom she adored. So much so that when asked what she would grab from her house had it started on fire, it would be them, unless one of them started it. She went on to work at Mason Shoe and then at the Bloomer Hospital in housekeeping. After retiring, they traded the farm for a house in Cooks Valley. After coming out of retirement for the first time, Ellen made hundreds of baby quilts and opened her own business, Valley Ceramics, with the help and support of Frank. Her family is quite certain that her quilts and ceramics are all over the world. In her free time, you would find her crafting and cooking. Dumplings, sauerkraut, meat, gravy and homemade bread were a staple on her table where she would be sure to fill you up with food and love. Her philosophy was to build a bigger table and not just smaller portions.
Ellen is survived by her sister, Helen Hart; and sister-in-law, Nancy Ammentorp.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank; her parents; three grandkids; three grandsons- in-law, Mark Schoonover, Joe Rada, and David “Lumpy” Lauer; her siblings, Harold (Bert) Ammentorp, Vernon Ammentorp, Freddy (Joyce) Ammentorp, Dick (Tess and Gerri) Ammentorp, Dorothy (Eric) Telin, Betty (Robert) Pence, and Phyllis (Frank) Konieczny.
Ellen was a voracious reader, and she’d easily finish a book in a day into her 100’s. Her family credits her love of Danielle Steele for her longevity as she couldn’t leave this world before reading her newest book. With that said, her story isn’t over, and she is now free to start a beautiful new chapter where she will be reunited with all those who went before her. This chapter will surely include her fulfilling a lifelong dream of getting in the cockpit. Fly high, Grandma M&M.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dove Healthcare of Bloomer and Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice for all of their phenomenal care and support.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Ellen’s memory to a charity of your choice.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2025, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cooks Valley with Father Arockiaraj Paristham celebrating the mass. Burial with Military Honors rendered by the Bloomer American Legion & VFW will be held in the church cemetery following the mass. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday at Thompson Funeral Home in Bloomer. A Vigil Service will begin at 7 p.m. to conclude the evening visitation. The visitation will continue Saturday at the funeral home with Recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 10 a.m. and visitation from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Thompson Funeral Home & Chippewa Valley Cremation Services in Bloomer is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit www.thompsonfuneralhome.com.
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Konieczny Szczech Family History
1922 - 2025 (102 years)