Stella Rose Cornelius

Stella Rose (Menting) Cornelius, age 92, passed away on Friday, June 12, 2026. She was born on September 21, 1933 in Phlox, Wisconsin to Albert and Rose (DeBroux) Menting. She married Bernard Cornelius on January 19, 1952 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Phlox. He preceded her in death on August 24, 2012.

Stella enjoyed weaving rugs, baking cookies, and baking pies for her family and friends. She was employed many years as a CNA at Iola Hospital, as a secretary at Royal Oaks Industries, and also worked at Sturm and Jenson Oil Co.

After raising 8 children in Manawa mom and dad moved to Elcho, WI to live on Post Lake. One vacation to Apache Junction, AZ and it didn't take them long to become Snow Birds. Mom returned to Wisconsin to live in Iola for 7 years until recently moving to New London.

She is survived by her children: Sandy (Mike) Thomack, David Cornelius, Doug (Julie) Cornelius, Dean (Dawn) Cornelius, Cindy (Phil) Buttles; daughter-in-law: Liz Cornelius; grandchildren: Jessica (Bryan) Schmidt and Jennifer (Erik) Rottier, Michael (Faith) Thomack, Paul (Julia) Cornelius, Connie Samson, and Danielle (Paul) Jansen, David (Brittani) Cornelius Jr., Tabitha (Andy) Mares, Kenneth Cornelius, Angela (Buddy) Fietzer, and Stephanie (Wendall) Peeters, Kassandra (Todd) Going, Justin (Haley) Cornelius, and Jeff Runge, Kay Lynn (Treg DeSantis) Sasman, Charles (Andrea) Cornelius; Cody (Mackenzie) Buttles and Hana Buttles; grandson-in-law: Rob Rosenau; great-grandchildren: Aubree (Sam) Peters, Autumn (Quintin Bayorgeon) Schmidt, and Archer Schmidt, Kylie (Brandon Goldberg) Rosenau and Morgan Rosenau, Hailey Thomack and Wyatt Thomack, Keith (Sarah) Cornelius, Allison (Joseph) Basak, Zack Burmeister, Stetson (Bailey) Burmeister, and AmyJo Burmeister, Mike (Halie) Tischauser and Adam Samson, Owen Miller, Oliver Cornelius, and Oakley Cornelius, Skylar (Bryce) Beyer, Summer Going, and Evelyn Nery, Hadley Cornelius and Hudson Cornelius, Olivia Runge and Owen Runge, Bailey (Jeffery) Teske and Corbin Mares, Alex Madson, Nicole Schertz, Trisha Schertz, Levi Fietzer, Mayce Cornelius, Phillip Sasman, and Bowen Sasman: great-great-grandchildren: Brooks Peters, Charles Basak, Denver Tischauser, Beckett and Brinley Teske, Bennett and Briggs Beyer, Ethan Babbitt. Stella is further survived by sisters-in-law: Germaine Orlowski, Ann Cornelius, and Nancy (Vern) Jolitz.

Stella was proceeded in death by her husband, Bernard and her parents; daughter: Susan Larson; sons: Daniel Cornelius and Dennis Cornelius; granddaughter: BillieJo Rosenau; daughter-in-law: Susan Cornelius; sisters: Germaine, Gladys, Josetta, Verna, Sister Mary Rose; brothers: Wilbert, Leonard, Sylvester, Roland, Vincent, Marvin, Joseph, and Lester.

The family would like to thank Living Oaks Assisted Living Iola, WI for her care for 7 years. We would also like to thank Saint Joseph Residence in New London, WI and Moments Hospice for giving mom the physical and spiritual care she needed these past two months.

The Funeral Mass for Stella, will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manawa with Fr. Kris Mekala officiating. Burial will be in Little Wolf Cemetery, Township of Little Wolf. A visitation will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, from 4:00 - 7:00 p..m. at the Dahlke Life Celebration Center in Manawa and also prior to the service on Tuesday at the church from 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.