Muriel (Mickey) I. Wheatman

Monday, November 13, 2017 2:38 pm

Muriel (Mickey) I. Wheatman, 95, of Decorah, died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at Barthell O.E.S. Home in Decorah. Memorial services are at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at Fjelstul Funeral Home Church in Decorah, with Rev. David Sorenson officiating. Inurnment is in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

Muriel (Mickey) Irene Isenberger Wheatman was delivered at home by her parents (Ella Rognlien Nicholson and William Nicholson) June 6, 1922, on the family farm just outside of Decorah. She was one of the last babies to be baptized at home June 25, 1922, by Pastor Paul Koren. Muriel attended school for one year at a small, one-room country schoolhouse before moving from the farm to Decorah at age seven during the Great Depression. Mickey grew up in 1930’s Decorah, walking to school, spending time with friends and in area parks like Siewers Spring. A highlight of Mickey’s school years was being named the homecoming queen for the Decorah class of 1940.

During her lifetime, Mickey often remarked that she was “lucky in love” and that she had two happy marriages each lasting over 30 years. She married her high school sweetheart, Lowell Edward Isenberger, Aug. 3, 1941, a few months prior to the start of WWII. Mickey and Lowell started their marriage in Oakland, Calif., until Lowell enlisted for service. When Lowell was deployed to New Guinea, Mickey returned to Decorah. Mickey and Lowell had three daughters: Janeen, Susan and Tracy. Lowell died June 1, 1978.

Several years after Lowell’s death, Mickey reconnected with a high school friend, Roger Wheatman, who she married Feb. 14, 1982.

Muriel was an accomplished seamstress and took pride in sewing beautiful Easter dresses for each of her girls when they were young. She was a member of “Stitch & Chatter” and card clubs, and dabbled in rosemaling and knitting. She took great pride in her home, which she lived in for over 40 years, and enjoyed collecting fine glassware and Scandinavian items. She loved to read cookbooks, and had several “Grandma Mickey” specialties (fondly remembered and recreated by her grandchildren) and for years hosted family gatherings for many Christmas, birthday and holiday celebrations. She was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church.

Muriel is survived by her daughters: Janeen Armstrong of Winnebago, Minn.; Susan (Chip) Peterson of Decorah; Tracy (Roger) Croatt of St. Lucas; and stepdaughter, Pat (Neil) Inglett of Janesville, Wis. Also surviving is her sister, Eileen Nordheim, of Decorah; eight grandchildren; one step-grandchild and 11 great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Lowell Isenberger in 1978 and Roger Wheatman in 2014; and son-in-law, Kent Armstrong, in 2016.