Marcella Elizabeth Van De Walle

Mrs. Marcella E. Van De Walle, 98, De Pere, with her family by her side, went home to be with her loved ones to join them in eternal life on February 15, 2022. The daughter of the late John C. and Harriet (Diedrich) Vanden Berg was born on November 30, 1923 in Freedom, grew up on the family farm, and later became a lifelong De Pere area resident. The former Marcella Vanden Berg and Norbert L. Van De Walle were married on September 27, 1947 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Freedom and the couple enjoyed more than 54 years together.

Marcella was a member of the St. Mary Catholic Church in De Pere, the Christian Ladies Society at the church, and was an active member of the church's Refunders group, and the St. Mary's Quilters. She also enjoyed serving funeral luncheons and participating in the church's picnics. As a woman of strong faith, Marcella prayed the rosary daily and attended mass as often as she could. In recent years Marcella baked desserts for the Freedom House in Green Bay.

Marcella was an avid letter writer and was constantly reading a good book. Other interests include walking, riding her stationary bike, embroidery, gardening, along with feeding and watching birds. She was also known to have once refinished an entire kitchen worth of cabinets and used her talent to refinish many other furniture pieces.

Marcella enjoyed day trips traveling around Wisconsin with her family. In her later years she spent the late fall and early winters in Montana with her son and his family.

Marcella is survived by her children, Mary Lou (Robert) Jones, Karen (Donald) Bloczynski, Roger (Becky) Van De Walle, Margaret (Mark) Matzke, Ken (Kristin) Van De Walle; grandchildren, Melissa Jones, Bridget (Jonathan) Smylie, Gina (Ryan) Petrie, Eric (Kaylee) Van De Walle, Ryan Van De Walle (Paige Thoune), Christopher (Colleen) Matzke, Nicholas Matzke, William Matzke (Colleen Miller), Elizabeth Matzke (Austin Kowarsch), and Colter and Quinn Van De Walle; great-grandchildren, Craig, Evelyn, and Lucy Smylie. She is further survived by her sister-in-law Joann Boyd.

In addition to her parents and her step-mother Minnie, Marcella was preceded in death by her husband, Norbert and infant daughter, Mary Harriet; and brothers, Servanius (Jane) Vanden Berg and Robert (Marie) Vanden Berg. She was additionally preceded in death by Norbert's siblings, Joseph (Babe), Lucille (Gene), Dorothy (Dave), Mildred (Ken), and Emil.

Family and friends may visit at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Ave., De Pere, on Thursday, February 24 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Sharing of memories will conclude the evening at 7:00pm. Visitation will continue on Friday at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4805 Sportsman Drive, Ledgeview (De Pere), from 9:00am until 10:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Rev. Mike Ingold officiating.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Sage Meadow and Heartland Hospice for their care of Marcella during the past 3 years and all the family and friends who visited her. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to St. Mary Catholic Church or to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Norbert Van De Walle.