Carletta "Letty" J. Wallenfang

Carletta “Letty” Wallenfang of Green Lake was born to eternal life on June 2, 2025 at the age of 89.

Letty began life in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on July 16, 1935, to Carl and Loretta (Wagner) Cheney and spent her early years in Brighton. She attended the Wisconsin State Teachers College at UW-Whitewater where she met the love of her life, Nolan Gene Wallenfang. Letty discovered beautiful Green Lake during her college years when she worked as a camp counselor at Three Bears Camp on the lake’s northwest shore and vowed to live there someday. After college graduation she sailed to Japan to be with Nolan who was stationed with the U.S. Army. On September 7, 1958, they married in Tokyo and started a family. They were married for 63 years. Soon after their return to the states, they made Green Lake their permanent home. Letty received a master’s degree in education from UW-Oshkosh and taught elementary art education in Green Lake for 36 years. She was a pioneer in helping students appreciate nature through art and will be forever remembered by her grandchildren and later students as “Yama.” In 1974, Letty and Nolan purchased and began a multi-year restoration of their dream property that would eventually become Wallenfangs of Green Lake on North Street. The property was an extension of her classroom, as 100s of students enjoyed sessions of observation and discovery before returning to the work of creating their art projects. Carletta loved art and history and encouraged family and students to see the world and appreciate other cultures through travel. She lived what she encouraged others to do as she and Nolan together enjoyed many trips both near and far.

Carletta is survived by her five children, Kimi (Bret Sandleback), Robin, Nolan, Ryan (Katie Sullivan) and Kevin (Laura Smith); 11 grandchildren, Alison (Andrew) Hostad, Nash (Bree) Galster, Jacob Seibert, Lindsie (Silvio) Bonomi, Lauren Wallenfang, Anson Wallenfang, Austen Wallenfang, Lillian Wallenfang, Patrick Wallenfang, Heidi Wallenfang and Danielle Wallenfang; and two great-grandchildren, Bryson Hostad and Bowie Galster. She is further survived by a brother, Bernard Cheney; and a sister, Geraldine Thurber of Kenosha. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers, Dayton Cheney and Thomas Cheney; sisters-in-law, Barbara Cheney, Elaine Cheney, Gail Cheney; and brother-in-law, Harold Thurber.

The family would like to thank Dr. Kohlenberg and staff for many years of excellent care and the staff of Juliette Manor for their compassionate support this past year.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Green Lake with the Reverend Father Eric Nielsen officiating. Visitation will begin one hour before Mass. Burial will be at Dartford Cemetery in Green Lake.