Ellen Irene (Ficke) Ahlschwede was born Oct. 25, 1938, in Seward, to Adolph and Lana (Piening) Ficke and passed away in Seward on Sept. 12, 2021, at the age of 82 years, 10 months and 18 days. Ellen grew up in the Pleasant Dale area and was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She attended District 45 and graduated from Pleasant Dale High School with the Class of 1956.
Ellen was united in marriage to Darrel Ahlschwede on Sept. 16, 1956, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The couple lived in rural Pleasant Dale and Ellen worked in the candy department at Miller & Paine. The family lived south of Garland in the early 1960s and 70s and later moved south of Highway 34 on an acreage in the mid 80s. Ellen worked at Seward Memorial Hospital from 1962-2000 as a CNA. In 1998, she received the Caring Kind Award. Ellen enjoyed traveling, sewing and dancing. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and joined St. John Lutheran Church in 2010.
Ellen is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Darrel; two brothers, Clifford and Kenneth.
Survivors cherishing her memory include her children, Nyla and husband, David Helge, Pleasant Dale, Kevin and wife, Karna Ahlschwede, Seward, Lynda and husband, Ted Hughes, Seward; grandchildren, Jared and wife, Tesa Helge, Joshua and wife, Logan Helge, Jessica and husband, Christopher Wobig, Kelsey Ahlschwede, Kristin Ahlschwede and fiancé, Adam Arnold, Theo Hughes, Samantha Hughes; six great-grandchildren, Chloe Helge, Graham Helge, Kennedy Wobig, Beckham Wobig, Emery Wobig, Lane Helge; two sisters-in-law, Beverly Ficke, Pleasant Dale and Ruth Ann Noziska, Hampton, Iowa.
The funeral service was Sept. 18, at St. John Lutheran Church with burial at the Greenwood Cemetery, Seward. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Condolences may be left for the family onlone at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
