Arelene K. Ellegood

Arelene K. Ellegood, age 73, of Wabasha, MN, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2022, at the Gunderson St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Wabasha. She was born on March 17, 1949, in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of George and Hilda (Watters) Frank. Arlene left home at a young age, venturing into Chicago and worked several jobs while she lived there. She would often talk about the museums that she would visit on her time off, sharing that she visited the Art Institute as it was a short walking distance away. She was very fond of history and would reminisce on several decades of historical events that she had lived through.

Arelene had also traveled several places, her favorite being Grand Cayman, Washington DC, “Out West”, and to the California coast to see her best friend, Judy Jacobs.

Arelene met Johnnie Ellegood in Chicago who she had married. Together they had their only daughter, Sherry Ann, who was their everything, and moved back to Wisconsin to raise her. She was then employed by Grede Foundry and became the first woman sand molder in the U.S., working up into higher positions, and eventually retiring from there. She also bartended for several years, always working two jobs to support her family. Arelene’s greatest joy was spending time and keeping up with her family which was her greatest passion in life.

She was preceded in death by her father, George Frank; daughter, Sherry Ellegood; granddaughter, Nicole Ronnfeldt; sister, Margaret Shay; and brother, George Frank.

Arelene is survived by her significant other, Bill Bernhardt; grandchildren, Corey Ellegood, and Ashley Finnell (Ronnfeldt); her great grandchildren Oaklyn, Hunter and Trinity; mother, Hilda Frank; her siblings, Art (June) Holford, Daniel Frank, Esther (Martin) Fowell, Patricia (Jerry) Leahy, Ruth (Rick) Patten, Russell (Nancy) Frank, Elsa Frank, Charles (Pam) Frank, Doris (Dan) Pulvermacher, Amy (Dennis) Butteris, Kenneth Frank, and William Frank; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews; along with other relatives and friends.

Graveside services for Arelene Ellegood will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 24, 2022 in the Greenwood Cemetery, Reedsburg.

The Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg is assisting the family.

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