Ella Schalow

Ella Ida Schalow, 73, of Crosslake passed away in Brainerd Thursday, December 29, 2005. Funeral services will be 11 AM Tuesday, January 3 at Crosslake Lutheran Church with Reverend Mark Anderson officiating. Visitation one hour prior to services. Interment will be at a later date. Family prefers memorials to the American Cancer Society.
Ella was born at home in Holland, MN November 25, 1933 to Gustav and Emma (Hasch) Wischmann. Ella grew up in Pipestone, MN and graduated from high school there in 1951. Ella was always good with numbers and took some business classes in high school which helped her land her first full time job at Hess Trucking Company. It was here that she met her future husband of 53 years, Richard DickSchalow. They were married April 4, 1952 in Pipestone. Dick transferred to St. Paul in 1954 and Ella took a job at Montgomery Ward. In 1958, Ella moved north to Crosslake when Dick, along with his brother, Otto, purchased a postcard company which would become NMN, Inc. As a farm girl, it took a while for Ella to get acclimated to the various critters she would have to deal with in the Northwoods. She had many personal battles with skunks, bats, porcupines, and the occasional bear. She won most of these skirmishes and it didnt take long for her to feel at home.

Ella worked closely with Dick at their new business, as her love of numbers served her well. She took some part time jobs in her early years in Crosslake, her favorite being a job at the little grocery store in Manhattan Beach.

Ella had many interests. She was an active member of Crosslake Lutheran Church as well as a former church council member. She loved working with the various groups within the church, especially helping at weddings, funerals and bazaars. She loved playing cards with lots of different people, participating in bowling leagues, dancing (in her early years), playing Mah-jong, doing her daily crossword puzzle, going to the occasional casino and gardening. Ella loved going for a good long walk or bike ride, which got her in good shape for one of her last great passions: chasing deer out of her yard and garden. Ella was always with her beloved husband, Dick. The two were inseparable, even in death. She was happy just being with him and the other love of her life, son Timothy. Ellas heart was as big as Texas and her empathy for others was never ending.

Ella is survived by her son, Timothy and daughter-in-law, Beth of Merrifield; sisters, Helen (Ted) Silva, of Crosslake; Esther (Jim) Carstensen, Martha Wittfoth, and Bertha Carson, all of Pipestone; brother, Robert (Lynda) Wischmann, of Scotland, UK; sisters-in-law, Irene Earl, of San Jaun, TX , Hilda Wischmann and Irene Schalow, of Pipestone; and many nieces and nephews. Her parents , brother Richard, sister Marie and her husband Dick preceded her in death.