Ella M. Wilson

Ella Marie (Friestad) Wilson, 96, peacefully passed away on January 24, 2024. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at McLaren’s. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.

Ella was born in Chicago, IL on December 29, 1927 to Louis and Karella Friestad. She attended Randall High School and went to Waldorf College and Drake University to become an elementary teacher. Ella taught school for over 30 years and enjoyed teaching her students. She met her beloved Wayne in Iowa and got married on June 7, 1952. They lived an amazing life of love and travel for almost 50 years. They lived most of their lives in Superior, WI and Palm Bay, FL. They had a love of a lifetime and were wonderful to their family and friends.

Ella had a deep passion for traveling. She took many trips with family and is one of a few people in the world to travel to all seven continents. The stories she told of all her travels will always be remembered.

Ella was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Wilson; parents, Louis and Karella Friestad; brother, Louis Friestad, Jr.; sister-in-law, Yvonne Gay Lorene Friestad; and nephew, Scott William Friestad.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews; Louis III (Teresa) Friestad of Johnston, IA, Kimberly Sanders of Fairfax, VA, Jennifer (Bill) Friestad of Ellsworth, WI, Monte (Kris) Friestad of Granger, IA, Jeannie (Mark) Gee of Johnston, IA, Todd Friestad of Des Moines, IA, Jill (Brian) Friestad-Tate of Polk City, IA, Julianne (Mike) Manock of Polk City, IA and Michael (Michelle) Wilson of Ames, IA. She is also survived by 21 great nieces and nephews and 25 great-great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Raising Readers in the Heartland, www.rrith.org which is a charity to put books in the hands of children in Polk County, IA. This continues Ella’s love of teaching children.