Ora L. Wichert
March 7, 1930 - August 20, 2016
        

Ora Lorraine Diest Wichert of Oconomowoc was brought unexpectedly to eternal life on August 20th at age 86.  Born in Milwaukee to the late Albert and Martha Diest, Ora grew up in Milwaukee with her two surviving sisters, Evelyn and Mary and her deceased brother, Eugene. She will be missed by her four children and their spouses, Judy (Dan) Christensen, Paul (Mimi) Wichert; Mary Beth (Christopher) Henry; Mark Wichert and his former spouse, Mary Esther Gillingham, to all of whom Ora was a profound source of comfort and grace.  She will also be missed by her grandchildren Andrea, Lauren, Madeleine, Katie, Martha, Christopher, Claire, Charlie and Carter for all of whom she played the role of chief cheerleader.

Ora was widely admired for her effusive, energetic, loving personality and was known by friends and family as “Hurricane Ora” because she was such a force of nature.  Ora will be greatly missed by her husband of sixty years, Marvin Wichert with whom she raised a family, traveled the world and enjoyed the many blessings of enduring love and friendship.  Ora graduated from Alverno College with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing in 1954 when less than 6 percent of women completed four years of college.  Ora then enjoyed a 34 year career at Oconomowoc Hospital as a labor/delivery nurse, a vocation which perfectly suited her enormous capacity for caring and her passion for children.  Ora’s patients and co-workers held great affection for her and showered praise on her in a profile of her published by The Oconomowoc Enterprise newspaper in 2008.  Ora and her husband, Marvin, have been stalwart parishioners of St. Jerome’s Church and in recent years, Ora was a daily participant in the 3:00 p.m. Adoration services. Ora’s indefatigable nature also led her to become an ardent golfer, a pursuit she vigorously enjoyed with many friends until her passing. 

A special thanks to the staff at the Oconomowoc Hospital Emergency Room for doing an outstanding job taking care of the Wichert family.  Visitation will be held from 3 PM until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 4:30 PM on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 995 S. Silver Lake St, Oconomowoc, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the St. Jerome’s Parish Building Fund are appreciated.