Lela Marie (Schaub) Wenig, 76, of Dorchester, Iowa, died after a brave fight with pancreatic cancer on Saturday, February 14, 2026, surrounded by her family in her home that she helped design and build.
She was born on May 8, 1949, to Henry and Juanita (Lowe) Schaub in Lincoln, Ill. In February 1959, her family moved to Richland Center. Lela graduated from Richland Center High School in 1967. In 1970, she graduated as part of the last class of the Saint Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, Wis.
After she achieved her RN degree, she married Duane Wenig on June 13, 1970, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Waukon, Iowa.
In 1972, the little family moved to Dorchester, Iowa, to purchase the Wenig family farm. From 1971 to 1979, they welcomed five children. She worked at Tweeten Memorial Hospital in Spring Grove, Minn. Lela also worked at Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove, Caledonia Care and Rehab in Caledonia, and as the school nurse for the Spring Grove and Mabel Canton school districts.
In retirement, she enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family and friends. Lela was an election worker at the voting polls in Dorchester for many years.
Her faith was very important to her. She and Duane assisted in building several churches in the community and supporting missionary work in Guatemala and Bogota, Columbia.
Lela is survived by her husband of 55 years, Duane; children: Heather (Paul) Gray of Spring Grove, Heath (Holly) Wenig of Dorchester, Heidi (Ken) Waldenberger of Spring Grove, Holly (Jake) Wieser of Houston, Minn., and Hope (Trent) Turner of Spring Grove; grandchildren: Benjamin (Becky Vang) Gray of Hopkins, Minn., Hannah (Malachi Fyksen) Gray of Spring Grove, Ezekial, Grace, and Isaiah Wenig of Dorchester, Kendra and Garrett Waldenberger of Spring Grove, Amber (Zach) Clark of Houston, Whitney (Alex) Hammond of New Richmond, Wis., Wyatt (Jordan Gettleman) Wieser of Caledonia, Madeline (Clayton Little) Wieser of Lansing, Iowa, Easton and McKenna Wieser of Houston, Reese (Brielle Colsch) Crouch of Stewartville, Minn., and Addison and Tyler Turner of Spring Grove; as well as five great-grandchildren, siblings: Linda (Myron) Peterson of Richland Center, William D. Schaub of Muscoda, Wis., Loretta (Daniel) Ewing of Richland Center, and Richard (Betty Jean) Schaub of LaFarge, Wis.; in-laws: Kay Wenig of Rockford, Ill., Barbara Boyle of Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Dorothy (Al) Oesterle of Rockland, Wis.; special cousin, William R. Schaub of Hartsburg, Ill.; godson Steve (Nikki) Oesterle, Rockland, Wis.; and much extended family.
Lela is proceeded in death by her parents Henry and Juanita Schaub, father- and mother-in-law Franklin and Erma Wenig; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Charles Boyle Jr., Romaine and Sandra Wenig, and Roland Wenig.
Memorials are preferred to Lela’s favorite missionary, Children’s Vision International, Inc., PO Box 380, Bangor, WI 54614. Condolences for the family can be sent to 498 Dorchester Dr., Dorchester, IA 52140.
The McCormick and Mengis funeral homes will be assisting the family with arrangements. A visitation will be on Sunday, February 22, 2026, from 3-6 p.m. at the Four Seasons Community Center, 900 N. Kingston St., Caledonia, A celebration of life will be held on Monday, February 23, with a service at 11 a.m., and lunch to follow at the community center. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at St. John’s United Methodist Church Cemetery in Dorchester, right next to the six-generation farm that she has lived on since 1972. A full obituary can be found online at www.mccormickfuneralhome.net.
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