Aurelia “Wegie” Joan Eskildsen, 85, of Clear Lake, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.
    A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Scott Wilson of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time on Wednesday at the chapel.
    The family of Wegie Eskildsen has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be directed to the family in her memory.
    Wegie was born on July 27, 1922, in Faribault, Minn., the daughter of Edgar Genoa and Bessie Mae (Marshall) Fent.  She attended and received her education in the Kensett, Iowa school system, graduating from Kensett High School in 1940.  Wegie worked most of her life in retail and customer service for grocery stores and restaurants in the north Iowa area.  She was united in marriage to Ray Eskildsen on Oct. 24, 1958, in Albert Lea, Minn.  In 1966, Wegie and her husband Ray owned and operated the River City Glass Company in Mason City, until they retired in 1988.
    She enjoyed gardening, working in her yard, and artistic painting. She loved animals and feeding the birds, but her great love and enjoyment was her family and grandchildren.
    She was a member of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Clear Lake.
    Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Ray Eskildsen of Clear Lake; her children, Reta (Darrell) Ulve of Kensett, Paula Gerdes of Lake Geneva, Wis., Jay (Connie) Bjorgo of Ripley, Okla., Jeffrey Eskildsen of West Bend, Ind., Larry (Sue) Eskildsen of El Centro, Calif., Roger (Jennifer) Eskildsen of Mason City, and David (Patti) Eskildsen of Bullhead City, Az.; 17 grandchildren, Todd, Teri, Jason, Matt, Brandy, Heather, Eric, Dawna, Brandi, Brad, Brian, Jeremy, Ryan, Chad, Dawn, Shannon and Shane; 22 great-grandchildren, many extended family members and friends.
    She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Madge, Odetta, and Vera; one son, Steven Eskildsen; one granddaughter, Linda Ulve; one grandson, Brent Eskildsen; one daughter-in-law, Karen Eskildsen; one son-in-law, Mark Gerdes.