Alice Werkmeister, age 89 of Lake View, Iowa, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a lifetime of love, hard work, and treasured family memories.
Alice was born on May 2, 1937, in Lake View, Iowa, to Leo J. and Dorothy (Roeder) Drilling. She grew up in the Lake View area, attending country school during her younger years before graduating from Lake View High School. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake.
On June 1, 1957, Alice was united in marriage to the love of her life, Leo Werkmeister, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sac City. They were blessed with five children: Keith, Teri, Wendy, Traci, and Tami.
Alice served her community as the Utility Billing Clerk for the City of Lake View for 30 years before retiring in 1999.
Home was where Alice’s heart truly was. She found great joy in tending her large vegetable and flower gardens each summer, a labor of love that always resulted in plenty of canning and freezing for the months ahead. She enjoyed reading, working on jigsaw puzzles, playing games and cards with her grandchildren, family and friends, and shopping garage sales and auctions.
Camping was one of Alice’s favorite things to do. From the time her children were young until long after they had families of their own, countless weekends and vacations were spent making memories at the campground. Some of her favorite times were camping alongside Tokie and Marge Werkmeister and Lester and Sue Lange, where laughter, friendship, and unforgettable stories were always in abundance. Alice also enjoyed pontoon rides and fishing with her family.
Sundays were especially meaningful in the Werkmeister home. After church, the family would gather around the table for a big home-cooked meal. Alice was famous for her Hershey candy bar dessert and sugar popcorn—a favorite that her family often requested and will forever remember.
More than anything, Alice treasured being a grandmother. She was a hands-on grandma who delighted in teaching her grandchildren new skills, whether it was helping in the garden, working in the kitchen, or simply sharing life’s little lessons. She loved every minute spent with them, and the time, patience, and wisdom she shared became some of her greatest gifts to her family.
Alice also cherished time spent with her dear friends, Marge and Darlene, especially their outings to Doc’s, where she would happily declare that no one made a vegetable burger quite like Doc’s. It was a simple pleasure that always brought a smile to her face.
Alice will be remembered for her caring heart, her quiet strength, and the unwavering love she poured into her family every day. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a proud grandmother, and a loyal friend. The memories she created, the traditions she established, and the love she freely gave will continue to live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.
She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her family and friends.
Left to cherish Alice‘s memory are her daughters Teri Meyer of Lake View, Traci (John) Hall of Omaha, NE, and Tami Werkmeister of Lake View; grandchildren: Andrew (Haylee) Meyer of Parsberg, Germany, Jennifer Hall of Omaha, NE, Holly Hall of Omaha, NE, and Katie (Zachary) Swinford of Gladstone, MO; sisters-in-law Jan Drilling, Linda Drilling, Sue Lange, and Linda Werkmeister; many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Dorothy Drilling; her parents-in-law Orie and Mathilda (Stoelk) Werkmeister; husband Leo Werkmeister; son Keith Werkmeister; daughter Wendy Werkmeister; brothers Robert (Delores) Drilling, Lawrence Drilling, James Drilling; sisters Elsie (Marvin) Souder, Carol (Michael) Flynn, Nancy Drilling; brothers-in-law Kenneth Werkmeister and Lester Lange.
Alice’s family would like to give a special thank you for the care she received while at both Black Hawk Life Care Center and Park View Rehabilitation Center.
