Della Mae Moen

Della Mae Moen of Freeport died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, March 15, 2015. Della was born March 28, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois to Donald N. and Marie A.(Quelle) Utesch. She married Charles W. Moen on June 15, 1951 in Chicago. Della graduated from Senn High School in Chicago in 1948, and Carthage College in 1952. She earned a Master of Education in 1989 from National Louis University. Della had a true servant's heart. She loved her Lord and lived out her faith through teaching, through stewardship of the land, and through her faithful service to everyone around her. Her faith and love were most evident in her devotion to her family. Della was an elementary and middle school teacher for 35 years in the Freeport School District. After retiring, she was elected to two terms on the Regional Board of Education. In1984 she was named Conservation Teacher of the Year by the Stephenson County Soil and Water Conservation Board., which led to her involvement with the Stephenson SWCD. She started as a volunteer in 1985 and later served 8 years as a local Board Member and three years on the Board of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts. For 19 years she wrote feature articles about soil and water conservation for the Freeport Journal Standard. She was also involved in many other land and water quality initiatives, including, being a founding member of the Driftless Area Initiative. She received numerous recognitions and awards, most recently the 2014 Conservation Friends of the District Award. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, the Retired Teachers Association, Noon Kiwanis Club, to name a few. She was a charter member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and served in many capacities there through the years. Della is survived by her husband, Chuck; daughters, Mae (Delvin) Trost and Peggy Wohlford, both of Lena, and Carol (John) Nielsen of Mt. Horeb, WI; six grandchildren, Trisha (Dale) Forrester of Freeport, Colin (Karla) Trost of Bolingbrook, AF Captain Joshua (Dorothy) Wohlford of Navarre, Florida, AF Captain Justin Wohlford of Perry, Georgia, Matthew Nielsen of Tuscan, Arizona, and Kristina Nielsen of New Delhi, India; and 4 great grandchildren, Sydnee, Max, and Zoee Forrester of Freeport, and Sonnet Wohlford of Navarre, Florida. She is also survived by one sister, Donna (Chris) Bredlow of Moorehead, Minnesota, and six nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Cheryl Utesch, one daughter, Mae Jean, and son-in-law, Randy Wohlford. Visitation for family and friends will be Friday, March 20, from 3-7pm and Saturday, March 21 from 12:30 until time of service at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Freeport, IL. Memorial service will follow at 1:30pm at the church. Cremation rites have been accorded with internment of ashes to follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in her name.