Marion "Sissy" West

Service Details

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home

• Public Visitation: 4pm
• Funeral Service: 6pm

Private Interment

Memorial Suggestions

• Parkside Manor
• Hospice Alliance, Inc.

Mt. Pleasant – Marion B. “Sissy” West, 86, passed away at Parkside Manor in Kenosha on September 20, 2017. A woman loved by so many, she was born in Milwaukee on May 7, 1931, daughter of the late Matthew E. and Marion B. (nee: Arends) Montey. Sissy was married to Louisiana native Wilford O. “Boots” West in the Church of Redeemer on September 11, 1948, and settled in Racine after Boots was discharged from the Air Force.

As a young woman, Sissy worked in many different places and had a variety of jobs; she even picked cotton! After seven years, she and Boots decided it was time to start a family, and Sissy happily took on the role of homemaker. When the children entered high school she returned into the workforce. She and Boots enjoyed traveling the U.S. and made annual trips south to visit relatives in Louisiana and Mississippi. Sissy was always active in whatever church she attended. She loved children and enjoyed teaching in Sunday School and working in the nurseries. She also taught “Tiny Tots” roller skating at Skate Town in Racine. She introduced roller-skating to all of her grandsons, and was very involved in taking them to compete on state and national levels. She used her skills as a seamstress to design and create their costumes for the competitions. Marion was also very artistic and had a decorator’s eye for design. She enjoyed painting in oils and acrylics, and enjoyed ceramics so much that she got her own kiln. Sissy loved to shop and always knew which store had the best prices in town. She liked going to bingo with her best friends, Francis Petrowski and Madalyn Wampole. She was never afraid of any kind of work, and could often be seen working alongside her husband and daughter doing construction and renovation projects. She was always willing to pitch in and help anyone and everyone with their projects, no matter what it was.

Marion is survived by her husband of 69 years Wilford “Boots” West; their daughter Linda Fonk; 3 grand sons and their wives, Robert and Kelly Petrowski, Michael and Karrie Petrowski, and David West; 3 granddaughters, Rylee Madison, Regan Alexandra, and Harper Rae; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Alice Montey, J. William West, Virlin Hansen, Sally Willis, Pat and Betty Jean McCann; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was also preceded in death by her son Robert and his wife Renee; and son-in-law Frank C. Fonk; her sister Gloria (George) Tepley; and brothers Kenneth and Donald Montey; 3 sisters-in-law; 4 brothers-in-law and 3 sisters-in-law. Her sister-in-law, AKA her “Partner in Mischief” Joanie West, look out heaven when they’re together!

Funeral services will be held in the funeral home on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. Public visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. Private interment will take place at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Please consider making donations in Sissy’s honor to either Parkside Manor, or Hospice Alliance, Inc.

The family would like to think Randy West and Hospice Alliance for their assistance in a Sissy’s last days. A huge thank you goes to the wonderful staff of Parkside Manor for the wonderful care of Sissy and her family.