Hope Bisek

A Celebration of Hope’s Life will be held at First Congregational Church of Alexandria on Saturday May 2 at 10 am; visitation at 9 am. Visitation on Friday May 1 from 4 – 8 pm at Anderson Funeral Home. Memorials are preferred to the First Congregational Church. OBITUARY Shirley “Hope” Bisek was born in Alexandria on August 16, 1916; the daughter of George William and Clara Ethel (Lee) Weatherwax. Hope graduated from Central High School in 1934. She completed Normal Training to become a school teacher. Hope taught country school at Jefferson District 30 on the Carlos Prairie for seven years. On July 4, 1941, she married Edwin James (Speed) Bisek; her childhood sweetheart. They loved this special day for their anniversary because the entire country celebrated with them. Hope left teaching to join her husband Speed who was working at an air defense plant in California. World War II caused her to change her plans and teach one more year at Union Lake District 6. Hope worked at the Ford Plant in St. Paul during World War II and was the Receptionist at the Alexandria Clinic when there were only five doctors. Hope loved people and knew almost everyone in Alexandria at that time. She worked at the clinic for five years until her son, Jeff was born in 1953. Hope and Speed loved to travel. They were in all 50 states, all seven continents and 98 countries. She was glad they were both “gypsies” and always excited to see and explore the other side of every mountain. Hope wants to be remembered as someone who loved life and lived to the fullest every day. Hope passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Presbyterian Homes on Lake Minnetonka. Hope is survived by her son, Jeff (Mary) Bisek of Minnetonka; sister, Audrey (Elroy) Froemming of Alexandria; grandchildren, Valerie (Justin) Eisel of Robbinsdale and Matthew (Rosemary) Patterson of Minneapolis; great grandchildren, Kalob, Bailey, Noah, Angelina, Malcolm and Miles; 13 nieces and nephews. Hope was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin “Speed” Bisek; parents, George and Clara Weatherwax; sister, Mavis Knutson; brothers, Clare “Sonny” Weatherwax and Gerald “Poik” Weatherwax.

Hope Bisek

August 16, 1916 - April 25, 2015