Sister Agnes (Magdala) Ballweg, O.P.

Sister Agnes Ballweg, O.P., 91, passed away at Ascension All Saints Hospital, Racine on Thursday, November 24, 2016.

Agnes Adeline was born June 15, 1925 to Jacob and Magdalena (nee: Roelke) Ballweg in Roxbury, WI. On August 30, 1939 she joined the Racine Dominicans and at her reception in 1942 she was given the religious name Sister Magdala. She professed her first vows in 1944 and her final vows in 1950. In 1968 she returned to using her baptismal name Agnes.

Sister Agnes spent many years in service to others in education as a teacher, principal and school secretary. She began her ministry in 1943 at St. Rita, Racine. Other places in Wisconsin where she served were Holy Angels, Milwaukee; SS. Peter & Paul, Green Bay; St. Mary, Belgium; St. Andrew, Knowles; St. Mary, Pewaukee; St. Peter, East Troy; St. Mary, Mineral Point; St. Sebastian, Sturtevant; St. Mary; Kansasville; Holy Cross, Kaukauna; and St. Louis, Caledonia. She also served in Michigan and Alaska. She did volunteer service both in Eau Claire and later in Racine. In 2014 she became a resident at Siena Center, Racine and delighted the sisters with her homemade treats.

Sister Agnes is survived by the Racine Dominican Sisters and Associates; sister-in-law Florence Ballweg; brother-in-law James Hepola; her niece Sister Joyce Ballweg and other nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; and her brothers Robert (Mabel) and Ervin; and sisters Alice (Eugene) Brunson, Florence (John) Lewis, Loraine (Egbert) Reeves, Mabel Hepola and Esther (Calvin) Dean.

Visitation will be in the Siena Center Chapel on Wednesday November 30, beginning at 9:00 a.m. with a Remembering Service at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Internment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy 32. Memorials to the Racine Dominican Mission Fund have been suggested.

The Racine Dominicans would like to extend their thanks to the Supportive Living staff who cared for Sister Agnes at Siena Center, the staff at Lakeshore Manor, Ascension All Saints and Wheaton Franciscan Hospice.