Coletta Ann Wernimont

Coletta Ann “Tootie” Wernimont, age 93, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Friday, September 1, 2023 at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake. Funeral services will take place Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda, Iowa. Burial will be in the Mount Zion Catholic Cemetery in Fonda. Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 5, 2023 from 5-7:00 p.m. with Rosary at 6:45 p.m. and Prayer Vigil at 7:00 p.m., all at the CHURCH. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Foundation Nursing Scholarship at https://www.bvrmc.org/give/. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Tootie was born on May 3, 1930 to Joseph and Josephine (Haberl) Steffes in Roselle, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Roselle, where she also attended school through the eighth grade. She proudly graduated with her GED in 1994. Tootie was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Fonda, Iowa. Most recently, she was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Storm Lake, Iowa. On January 3, 1949, Tootie was united in marriage to Leo W. Wernimont at the Holy Angels Catholic Church in Roselle. The couple were blessed with ten children: James, Gerald, William, Susan, Karen, Kathleen, Joan, Lisa, Daniel, and Ann. Leo and Tootie lived in rural Pocahontas until they moved to a farm north of Fonda in 1962. In 1997, they moved into town. After Leo passed away in 2018, she moved to Otsego Place Assisted Living in Storm Lake. She settled into Methodist Manor in the fall of 2022. Tootie had a serving heart. She delivered Meals on Wheels and was a volunteer for local elections. Tootie was a member of Freedom Quilts, Holy Family Society, and Catholic Daughters of America. She enjoyed playing cards and belonged to Bridge and 500 clubs. Tootie loved sewing and quilting, reading, visiting with friends and gardening. Most of all, she loved her family visiting. She and Leo were very quick to get the cards out and try to win! You could always count on a hot meal, sweet rolls on Sundays and awesome desserts! Left to cherish Tootie’s memory include her children: James (Cheryl) Wernimont of Fonda; William (Jackie) Wernimont of Neenah, WI; Karen (Denny) Kakacek of Watertown, SD; Kathleen (Bill) Daniel of Fonda; Joan (Ken) Mohr of Fonda; Lisa (Jaime) Chanez of Norfolk, VA; Daniel (Jess) Wernimont of Fonda; Ann (Lee) Evans of Norwalk, Iowa; 29 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents: Joseph and Josephine Steffes; husband Leo W. Wernimont; brothers Lawrence Steffes, Norbert Steffes; sisters Hilda Schroeder, Lucille Galloway, Irene Ertz, Elizabeth Wittrock, Florence Kokenge, Bernice Irlmeier; infant daughter Susan Wernimont; son Gerald Wernimont; and great-grandson Kyle Lamb.

Coletta Ann Wernimont

May 3, 1930 - September 1, 2023