In Remembrance

With heavy hearts, we would like to share that
Ellyn Louise Wiens, aged 85 years old, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2025 at Ecumen
Memory Care, in Duluth, MN.
Ellyn was born September 23, 1939 to Louise Marguerite Jones (Roeth) and John Paul Jones in
Portage, WI. She often reminisced about going to the cottage on Silver Lake in Wautoma, WI
and she loved getting chocolate sodas. Her fondness for Wisconsin was well-known, as she was
rarely seen without some kind of Badger apparel. After graduating from University of WI, she
began as a middle school teacher in Elgin, IL. Ellyn was extremely dedicated to her students’
education and inspired a love of learning in the people around her. Even outside the classroom,
she was always trying to help others and encourage the proper use of grammar. Ellyn returned
to Madison to achieve a double master’s in communication and english. She was incredibly
ahead of her time with respect to forward thinking ideas and feminism, which can be seen in
her commitment to education.
As Ellyn grew up, she was constantly working to support her family and better the world around
her. Throughout her life, she worked at Carroll College, MADD and substance abuse services,
MGIC in Milwaukee, Stokely USA, and lastly at Cousins in Oconomowoc. Ellyn worked extremely
hard to support her family and was driven by her compassion for others. She retired when she
was 59 and built her dream home in Sunset Beach, NC in 2000.
However, even though Ellyn was committed to her work and her engagement in multiple
charities, her life centered around her family and, of course, her dogs. Ellyn cared deeply for her
two children, David and Louise, and her grandchildren, Connor, Maren, Brendan, Andrew, and
Gillian. Ellyn and her second husband, Don Wiens, remained best friends after their divorce
until his passing in 1991. Her family always included her dogs, too. She cared religiously for her
dogs, Jaxx and Sheba, and often adopted from rescue shelters, even if the dog had a history of
behavioral concerns. Ellyn was adamant about participating in her family’s lives and loved going
on trips with them. Her family adventures took her from the Amazon in Peru and the Bio Bio
River in Chile to the vast wilderness of Alaska, through the streets of Italy and England, across
the Grand Canyon to Wyoming and Oregon, and into Upstate New York and back to San
Francisco.
After her third grandchild was born in MN, she sold her dream house, gave up her roots in
North Carolina, and moved to Rochester, MN where she could be a full time grandma to Connor,
Brendan, and Maren. While in Rochester, Ellyn was instrumental in her grandchildren’s lives. She
helped watch Maren and Brendan when Connor had early cello lessons. She regularly
volunteered at Connor’s Montessori school. Her grandchildren fondly remember the most
delicious hot cocoa in her brightly colored mugs and her beautiful garden filled with roses. Ellyn
loved wildlife and gardening, and loved sharing her knowledge of plants with her family and
friends. Ellyn was also dedicated to visiting her other two grandchildren, Andrew and Gillian, in
Wisconsin and facetimed regularly.
After 9 years in Rochester, she followed Louise’s family to Duluth, MN in 2013 and built a house
surrounded by woods for her and her dogs. Her home had a lovely pond where she would walk
her dogs and was just up the road from Louise. She was very conscious of the environment and
always tried to plant trees or native plants to cultivate a healthy forest. Her birdfeeder was
consistently filled to the brim for the wildlife. In Duluth, she became a member of Peace UCC
and joined the master gardener program here in Duluth. Ellyn was a diligent mentor in both
organizations and found joy spreading her love of the arts and gardening.
We are grateful that Ellyn was surrounded by her two children, David and Louise, and her friend,
Kevin, in her final days. Her grandchildren tried their best to stay in touch over the phone. She
missed her two brothers terribly and her dogs. In her last days, Louise enjoyed reading old
letters with her from her mother and an aunt, and going through old photographs. Ellyn was a
light that people were drawn to and a driven woman who inspired those around her. She will be
deeply missed.
Ellyn is preceded in death by her parents, Louise Marguerite Jones (Roeth) and John Paul Jones,
and her two younger brothers, Steve and Owen Jones. She is survived by her son, David Andrew
Wiens (Jennifer) and her daughter Louise Kai Wiens Friday (Bret); and her grandchildren Connor,
Maren, Brendan, Andrew and Gillian.
The family would like to thank the staff of Benedictine Rehab, Ecumen Home Care, Keystone
Assisted Living, Ecumen Memory Care, Ecumen Hospice Care and Affordable Cremation for all of
their care and support during this difficult time.
Please come celebrate Ellyn’s life at Peace United Church of Christ, Duluth, MN on June 7 at
3pm visitation with a service to follow at 4pm. A cookie reception will follow the service. In lieu
of flowers, please consider a donation to one of these three charities: Peace UCC Donation,
Save The Children Donation or N Lakes Food Bank Donation.