Obituary
Elma West, 96, of Belvidere, IL, died peacefully surrounded by her children, May 9, 2022. She was born March 2, 1926, in Fall Creek, WI, to Julius and Ida (Geske) Reetz. She married the late Gordon West, May 26, 1946, at St. John Lutheran Church in Fall Creek. She worked at Freeman shoe company in Beloit and Dixon for 17 years before moving to Belvidere and working at Chrysler until her retirement. Elma took pride in cultivating relationships and treated everyone like family – as she participated in Church groups, meals on wheels, card clubs, and ballroom and square dancing.
Elma is loved and will be missed by her daughters, Carol Julian, and Connie (Marvin) Zimmermann; son, Gregory (Brenda) West; brothers, Leo and Kenneth Reetz; sister, Leona Brian; Grandkids, KC Julian, Corey Ann Wilson, Jennifer (Jeff) Silus, Grant (Elizabeth) Wesson, Dan (Lisa) Zimmermann, Laura (Brad) Praske, Jennifer Rauen, Keegan (Alicia) West, and Nicole (Freddie) Reyes; great-grandchildren, Annika Wilson, Isabelle Wilson, Kylie Silus, Caden Silus, Quinn Wesson, Grace Wesson, Johnathan Wesson, Leah Reed, Matt Spinden, Caleb Zimmermann, Noah Praske, Emma Praske, Parker Rauen, Becca Rauen, Alyssa Reyes, Addison Reyes, and Lake West; her great-great-grandchildren, Aspen and Sawyer Reed; her numerous nieces and nephews; and her valued friend, Julie Anderson.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon West; parents; sister, Loretta Reetz; brother, Edmund Reetz; and son-in-laws, Dennis Julian and David Wilson.
A visitation will be Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 10 a.m. until the time of Funeral Service at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1300 Pearl St., Belvidere, IL 61008. Pastor David Petersen will officiate. Burial at Highland Garden of Memories. Memorials in her honor can be given to Zion Lutheran Church and the Keenage Center. To light a candle or leave a condolence, please go to www.andersonfcs.com.
