Sheila Wellstone
Sheila Wellstone
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Sheila Wellstone Obituary
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Ina Liljedahl
January 23, 2003
Even now, there is so much saddness about the loss of such a great woman in our society. It was my pleasure to have met and worked with Sheila. These will be lasting memories. My pain is in the loss of such a strong voice for the abused and tramatized. Thank you, Sheila, for your legacy.
Ellen Murphy
November 14, 2002
The last time I saw Sheila was a year ago this last Halloween. We ran into each other in the hallway of the Russell Senate Office Building. I was dressed in costume as a liberty goddess with a long flowing green dress, red, white and blue beads and patriotic buttons.
She recognized me and complimented my get-up.
We just spoke a moment-she was in a rush. And while this would not be a normally outstanding memory it is the last one I have of a gracious and outstanding woman who, along with her husband made such a difference in so many lives.
I will never forget you, Sheila and Paul.
Justin Holbrook
November 1, 2002
Sheila's father, Delmar is my grandfather's cousin. I can see their home from my bedroom window. The whole town is saddened by this loss. I never met her, but I know she was a great woman. May the Wellstone family receive some peace in knowing that the world loved their parents and sister so much. And Kingdom Come will never stop praying for them all.
Jen
November 1, 2002
Thank you for the work you did for women and children.
You are my hero.
May your family and friends find some peace in knowing how many lives you touched.
Peace.
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Robin McAllister
October 31, 2002
"Behind every great man there's a great woman."
amy reynolds
October 30, 2002
I am deeply sorry about your families losses. I feel for all of you. We all lost three wonderful people and they will always be with us in our hearts.
Nancy
October 30, 2002
God bless Paul, Sheila, Marcia and all the victims who became angels-our heroes- on October 25, 2002, and their families, friends, and associates. I watched and cried through the entire memorial last night. The spirit of Wellstone lives on, and he has and they have already won, more than he could ever imagine!
Mark, you were right-there is always a sign for those who watch for it, and you got yours, and they are all fine and watching over you!
Tammy Norelius
October 30, 2002
I saw this in the paper and wanted to relay a verse that was given to me when we lost our daughter in a car accident earlier this year. I am referring to: As David Wellstone was leaving the tragic scene, he saw a huge white ball on the road. "And then it flew up. It was a huge bald eagle perched there, looking out over us.
Here is the explanation of an eagle sighting I was told: When a loved one dies and you see a eagle fly, that means the loved one has reached the highest level in Heaven. Peace.
We too saw an eagle after our daughters passing. God Bless your family.
Deborah Kirpach
October 29, 2002
Thank you, Sheila, for all of your hard work on human rights for women throughout the world. Thank you for loving Paul and sharing him with us.
Kelley Danielson
October 29, 2002
Sheila Rest in peace! You will be greatly missed.
Michelle Line
October 29, 2002
I am so sorry for the loss of Sheila, Marcia, and Paul.They impacted many lives, and will continue to do so. They are now in heaven watching down over us and doing the same thing they did here. May God bless the Wellstone family.
S Porter
October 29, 2002
Even here in Colorado, someone mourns. Too few like the Wellstones and their dedicated staff, who gave a damn for the people.
Micki Stenglein
October 28, 2002
Thank you Sheila - you will be sadly missed.
vanessa johnson
October 28, 2002
you will be sadley missed
judy wyman
October 28, 2002
sheila I already miss you a lot,I
will always remember that day at the
decc when you made me feel inportant.like I matter that day.Always will miss you .
Bruce Vandal
October 28, 2002
You and Paul came to our home just a few months after we moved in for a campaign fundraiser. We were new to the neighborhood, so did not know what to expect.
What happened was amazing. Our small house was literally bursting at the seams as people came to see you and Paul. They stood on the sidewalk, up the steps, every square inch was filled with your supporters.
What an incredible testament to the love the people of Minnesota had for you.
JoAnn Cardenas-Enos
October 28, 2002
Shiela, your wonderful insight and understanding will be missed. I will miss you deeply.
Nancy Moore
October 28, 2002
I loved Paul and Sheila. Mary McEvoy was my friend, who I loved dearly. Those of us who loved them, respected them and who viewed them as personal heros, must carry on and fulfill their life's work and passion. By doing this, they will never be forgotten.
Katherine Barton
October 28, 2002
Sheila, thank you for your profound and unfailing service to women, the forgotten, like Paul served. We were honored with your presence. Blessings to you and your family.
Shirlee Sherkow
October 28, 2002
Thank you, Sheila, for your undying support for Paul, your grace, charm and intelligence. We will miss your voice for women's rights, domestic violence and an advocate for the "little people without a voice" every day. You will never, ever, be forgotten. Peace!
Greg Roach
October 28, 2002
Sheila was my favorite teacher in High School, I had her for 3 years as my Spanish Teacher. She will be dearly missed and I will never forget her.
Lisa Teborek West
October 28, 2002
Sheila, you were an inspiration to so many of us for so many reasons. You are deeply missed.
Rosemary & Harry Armesto
October 28, 2002
Rest in Peace with your dear husband and child.
Arlene Tucker
October 27, 2002
Thank you Sheila for visiting us in Crookston last Wednesday. It was a pleasure to see you there with Paul. You have been such a support to women and children in our state. We will miss you.
Jonathan Delson
October 27, 2002
My sincere condolences to the Wellstone family.
Cheri DeSalvo
October 27, 2002
Rest in peace Sheila.
Jan Mehlhoff
October 27, 2002
I am profoundly sorry for your loss. There is simply nothing else to say. I hold you and your family in my prayers.
Lena J
October 27, 2002
The world should know that Sheila was a great champion for battered women and their families. Minnesota and the nation owe a lot to her for her work on behalf of victims of domestic violence. She advocated on their behalf in Washington, especially in the passing of the VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) and VAWA II. She was tireless in her work, visiting shelters and speaking at rallies. I was with a group that started a battered women's advocacy program and a shelter in the Twin Cities. Shiela came to some of our meetings and gave us encouragement. When we finally opened the shelter a few years later, on a snowy January day, she was there at our opening ceremony, apologizing for Paul for not being there because he had to fly back to Washington for an important legislation. She braved the weather that day and flew to Washington to join her husband right after our ceremony. One selfless act of the Wellstones that I want people to know is that for one year in the mid-90's, they donated Paul's salary increase as a senator to our fledgling organization. I believe it was a habit of theirs to give away Paul's annual pay raises. The Wellstones were truly great people. May they rest in peace, and God bless their surviving family members.
Irene Heinstein
October 27, 2002
We have all learned what a great part Sheila Wellstone played in Paul Wellstone's political life, that she brought his attention to sex trafficking, which led him to bring the issue to the floor of the Senate, that she was a true soulmate. It is so sad that the Wellstones' sons have lost such inspiring parents as well as their sister. My condolences to them and to the grandchildren.
Susan Henken-Thielen
October 26, 2002
My deepest condolences to your family. You and Paul shared such a passion for causes and for each other. It was a privilege to be a witness to what can be accomplished by true soulmates who care about others. Thank you. You will not be forgotten.
Tara van Brederode
October 26, 2002
The few times I met Sheila, I came away from our conversations filled with energy and enthusiasm. She was warm, engaging, and delightful, and always put the people around her at ease with a touch or a hug. We had a conversation about our shared interest in violence prevention once, and her passion and dedication were infectious. No problem was too large for her to try to tackle, and I know her important work will continue.
It was also fun to see her and Paul exchange a glance--it was clear from those little intimacies that theirs was a special connection indeed.
October 26, 2002
Sheila-
Your undevoted love to Paul is so beautiful. It is so beautiful that you two were able to go as one, the way you have lived for 39 years.
Your work for Women's rights was fabulous and will be carried out. You have and will forever be a woman of power, a woman of will, and truly a woman to respect.
You are one of Heaven's newest Angels.
God Bless
Ann Baumbach
October 26, 2002
I meet Sheila a few weeks ago. What a wonderful woman. She was so full of energy and passion and her love and pride for her husband was so evident. They were truly partners in his service to our state and country. My heart goes out to her family in this terribly sad time. The world is a better place for having had Sheila in it.
Donna Wolf
October 26, 2002
My heartfelt condolences to the Wellstone Family, and the families of all who lost their lives yesterday.Proverbs 3:5,6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding;
Pat Kirikiti
October 26, 2002
My deepest sorrow and blessings are with Sheila, Paul, their daughter, staff and pilots's families, friends,Minnesota, our country and the world--~~~ those who feel the shock and loss of these great, courageous and dedicated people to the work of justice and peace in our time. As a former resident of MN--born, raised and educated--I took great inspiration from their shared work and vision of a more just and peaceful world. In prayerful memory, I work to continue their dream of that compassionate future in word and substance, day by day. THANK-YOU FOR THE LIFE AND LIGHT YOU SHARED WITH US ~~~.
Mavis Kelley
October 26, 2002
My heart goes out to all of Sheila's family and friends. I hope you find comfort in your loving memories, and in all of the prayers from those who did not know Sheila, but whose lives she touched.
Marty Gerkey
October 26, 2002
Thank you Sheila for your dedication to "Family". Your spirit and dignity in caring, listening, and acting according to what matters in the heart. May your sons find comfort at this most difficult time in knowing that their parents touched the lives of so many.
Tom Koop
October 26, 2002
Your voice came through loud and clear through Paul who stood for womens rights, all human rights. A lesson to learned by all. You were called his visionary by him for that I am grateful. You can't keep a good man down it is said, so you joined in the fight for our freedoms. Bye for now.
supatra johnson
October 26, 2002
I want to express my condolences to the Wellstone family and all others mourning the loss of loved ones in this tragedy. Sheila (along with her husband and daughter) were beacons of light in a world with little light of late. Their legacy will live on forever in the hopes and dreams of the common person that they both represented so admirably.
Sheila and Paul and Marcia, rest in peace.
You have made the world a better place and inspired people to believe, not just in Minnesota, but around the world, that they too can make a difference.
David Snowball
October 26, 2002
I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to Sheila's family in this time of loss. Sheila was an inspiration in her actions and beliefs.
Bill Wood
October 26, 2002
An inspiring leader. Let's honor her memory by keeping up her great work on ending domestic violence, along with all the other great issues for which she and Paul were unabashed champions of average hardworking Americans. My deepest condolences to the Wellstone family, and to Sheila and Paul's friends and colleagues.
Bret Thiele
October 26, 2002
Sheila, we'll miss you, but we'll keep up the fight. Thanks for everything.
Keith
October 26, 2002
Sheila: Our deepest gratitude to you and your family for sharing Paul with us all these years. May you both rest in peace with your daughter and I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the rest of the Wellstone family.
Meredith Fox
October 26, 2002
Sheila was such a neat lady. The world is a darker place without her here with us.
She was an inspiration to me politically through her advocacy for battered women and an inspiration to me personally through her amazing devotion to her husband and family. She was a woman to look up to. I know that she will live on in my memory and the memories of so many others whose lives she touched. My prayers are with her family. She was a great one.
Ashleigh Shiers
October 25, 2002
When I first heard about this tradegy I was at school.I was so angry.In memory forever god bless the wellstones's & families.
Michelle Schupmann
October 25, 2002
I am deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of all those who perished in today's plane crash. I had the pleasure and privilage of speaking with Sheila just a few weeks ago at a fundraiser for the Wellstone campaign held at a little St. Paul cafe. She was charming, forthright, passionate, tremendously engaging, and completely focused on what I had to say during that brief time we spoke. It's no wonder Paul was able to accomplish so much - she was an amazingly strong and generous woman. I am honored to have spent that small amount of time with her.
Patty Steck
October 25, 2002
It is always sad to lose someone who is so alive. It seems impossible that they could be present one moment and not the next.
My heart goes out to Paul and Sheila's sons, who have lost not only two fantastic parents, but a wonderful sister as well. Having lost both a father and a sister so far (I'm only 33) I know that the loss of a sister, especially one as young and involved as Marcia, is something which changes your soul.
The road ahead is difficult and you will cry more tears than you can imagine. It has been nearly a year since my 30 year old sister died, and it still hurts daily. Understand that many others have been there and grieve with you.
Elizabeth Sauser-Monnig
October 25, 2002
I'm sorry.
Bonnie
October 25, 2002
I am a student very close to graduating with a degree in Community Violence Prevention. I wish to work with battered women and their children. I have had the opportunity to hear Sheila speak about these issues, along with Paul. It's a very sad day in Minnesota, the three of them will be greatly missed. My prayers go out to their sons and loved ones.
Roxanne Oswald
October 25, 2002
I am saddened over the loss of Sheila Wellstone. I feel I know her, too, having seen her by Paul's side and involved in so many important causes herself all these years. I can only think of Sheila positively and with deep respect for her many contributions both within her own family as a wife and mother but also for the community and Minnesota.
Katie
October 25, 2002
As soon as I heard rumors of Paul's death this afternoon, I thought about Sheila and hoped beyond hope that she was alright, not only for the sake of the Wellstone family but for the sake of our society. I only wish she had had the chance to follow Paul's legacy. Minnesota lost another great leader and thinker with Sheila's death. Although not the name on the ballot, she was a dedicated and effective political leader. I always particularly admired her for being such a strong champion of women's rights. Sheila and Paul's partnership was an inspiration. My heart goes out to their sons and grandchildren.
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