Elli Marie Wiemers

Elli Marie Wiemers, daughter of Leland and Gail (Lakness) Roe, was born on August 19, 1968 in Watertown, SD. She grew up in the small farming community of Hazel, SD with her parents and siblings, Kent, Holly, Sonja, and Paul. She graduated from Hamlin Highschool and went on to attend South Dakota State University. 

At SDSU, Elli received her Bachelor’s degree in Education. While attending school in Brookings, she met the love of her life, Randy, through her brother Kent. They finished college and got married at New Hope Church in Hazel, SD on June 17, 1989. They moved to Spencer, IA following their marriage where they farmed for 14 years. While she was a dedicated school teacher, it was just as important to her to be active with the day-to-day tasks on the farm.  

Randy and Elli were blessed with their first son on February 8, 1994, Mitchell Lee Wiemers. While continuing to be present on the farm and a new mom, she decided to further her education at Iowa State University and completed her Master’s Degree in School Mathematics in 1995. On May 22, 1997 they had their second child, Taylor Johanna Britton (Wiemers). Continuing to ‘do it all’, Elli became a National Board-Certified Teacher in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Mathematics in 2000.  Their third child, Jace Randall Wiemers, was born on May 14, 2001, completing their family. Elli continued to thrive as a farm wife, mother, and lover of education through her child raising years while she also obtained her Professional Administrators License in 2014 and her Master Educator License in 2018. Elli was an upper-level mathematics teacher for 23 ½ years. She functioned as Interim Assistant Principal following her time in the classroom and then went on to become the High School Principal for six years. In her last two years of work, she worked as Director of School Improvement and Director of Student Services. She dedicated herself to the students of the school district and was devoted to being a faith-filled leader, always placing others first. 

In Elli’s free time, her faith was very important to her. She would start each day in devotional prayer for an hour or so, praying selflessly for anyone who crossed her path. She was known to send daily snapchats to her family with a bible verse or message from her prayer time that morning. She was an active participant in her church, blessing those around her with the gift of her voice – singing at church services, weddings, and funerals. She continued to be a faith leader through disciples’ ways and chaperoning church trips. Elli has always made her health a priority, being a runner for many years and then transitioning to kettlebell workouts. Even through her cancer journey, she would impress her doctors with her dedication to wellness, lugging her yoga mat, kettlebells, or free weights along on trips during her treatment. She also loved taking their family dog, Nan for walks and runs. She was a beautiful quilter, she loved spending time in her flower beds, and enjoyed any type of time with her family. Elli and Randy also loved to take trips to various bed and breakfasts, often in old historical districts in various spots where they could enjoy a good cup of coffee or glass of wine in a unique environment. 

Elli loved her “grand-pups” Sadie, Ned, and Norman with all of her heart. Often being the go-to babysitter whenever her children were out of town. She would send various snapchats through the day of the dogs reading devotions with her, enjoying a cup of coffee, helping her quilt, doing yard work, or partaking in her daily exercising. Elli was also very excited to take on the new roll of grandma to her first grandbaby arriving in February.  

Elli was known for her overwhelming faith which flowed into every channel of her life. Those who knew her appreciated her warming presence, grace-filled love, and bright smile that filled the room. Elli passed away on Friday, December 22, 2023 in Spencer, IA at the age of 55 with her husband and kids by her side. She was preceded in death by her father-in-law Harold Wiemers and cherished family dog, Nan. 

Left behind to celebrate and cherish her memory are her husband, Randy Wiemers, her son Mitch (Laura) Wiemers, her daughter Taylor (Justin) Britton, and son Jace Wiemers; her parents, Leland and Gail Roe, siblings Kent, Holly, Sonja, Paul, along with many loving relatives and friends.