Folkedahl, Amelia 2000 - 2023

FOLKEDAHL, KNUTSON, MCCONNELL, SVESTKA, KAFAR, HOLLOWAY, PANOS, RISSMAN, WILKINS, BORSHEIM, NOVOTNY, RUDE, ARNESS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:46

Amelia Folkedahl age 23 of Decorah, IA passed away on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Waverly Health Center.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA. There will be no visitation prior to the service. Attendees are asked to please come in and be seated.

Amelia's service can be watched at the following link - https://youtube.com/live/_JSf9IH_QBs?feature=share

A reception and celebration of Amelia’s life will be held from 1:00 - 5:00 P.M. on Saturday after the funeral at Pinters, 2475 IA-9, west of Decorah. There will be a meal and beverages provided from 1:00 - 3:00 P.M.

Burial will be held at a later date in Phelps Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers: Memorials may be made to the family in memory of Amelia. A scholarship fund will be set up in her name.

Born on April 24, 2000, Amelia is the daughter of Jayme Folkedahl & Melissa Folkedahl. She grew up in Decorah and was baptized and confirmed at FUMC The United Methodists Church in Decorah.

Amelia attended school in Decorah from preschool through graduation. She was a part of the 2018 class. During her time in high school, she participated in swimming, soccer, and played the viola. She was a state qualifier in swimming. Amelia was also active in volunteering at FUMC Puppets of Praise Youth Ministry. She received the Silver chord award for volunteering. She was a Nordic Dancer alongside cousin and best friend Micala Folkedahl for 10 years where the group would perform in Colorado, and Norway, among other places. In Amelia’s youth she spent countless hours with grandparents, cousins, and best friends which ultimately molded her into the beautiful women she was. There were many attributes from mom and dad. Her most favorite was shopping with mom, and constantly keeping up on the latest fashion trends. When it came to dad, she was the princess, and constantly called by her nickname “peanut”. Dad always had a hard time telling her, no!

Amelia attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. Here she was active in her sorority Alpha Phi, where she held various positions such as Vice President of Marketing and served as a recruitment guide for the sorority. She was also a member of other clubs and her church community at Candeo. She graduated with a bachelor’s in science and communications disorders with a minor in family studies in December 2021. Completing school, a semester early she returned to Decorah to work and travel. She then pursued her Masters in Speech Language Pathology and was set to graduate in May of 2024. While in her master’s Program she was a youth swimming and speech instructor. She studied abroad in the summer of 2023 in Turks and Caicos where she worked with children who had speech and language issues. Amelia was actively working with a variety of clients through the UNI master’s program which was nearing completion in December 2023. She was three weeks away from completing her time at UNI, she then planned to move back home for a skilled speech language pathologists’ internship at Keystone in Decorah, IA and the second at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport, IA.

Amelia was a bright light to all that knew her. She cared about everyone and her compassion for others radiated into everyone she met. She was a loyal friend, sister, daughter, granddaughter, and cousin to so many people. When you think of Amelia you think of happiness and laughter. Her smile was contagious, and her unique abilities to connect with people is how she amassed such a large community who loved her.

In Amelia’s free time she loved going to a variety of coffee shops, where she spent hours studying, and socializing with those who were closest to her. She loved to stay active, her favorite activities included yoga, cycling class, walks, runs, swimming, and keeping after her brothers. Amelia had a profound love for music. She started her mornings listening to spiritual music. She recently attended Justin Bieber-front row with one of her best friends, Jacey Bina. Kid Laroi in Iowa City, IA. Mitchell Tenpenny & Jason Aldean in Redwing, MN. Amelia also attended many Taylor Swift concerts, and even had one planned for this spring of 2024. Her profound love for God was unmeasurable. Her bible studies, and daily affirmations were always with her. She had an unbreakable commitment to her faith. On her last morning, Amelia had screenshotted and played the song ‘In Jesus Name’ by Katy Nichols. Her commitment to God, and her faith assures us that she is walking in Heaven beside the Lord.

Although her time was cut short here, Amelia had inherited the travel bug likely from her great Aunt Ione. Her travels included numerous family vacations to Newport Beach, California; Orlando, Florida; Austin, Texas; Las Vegas, NV, St. Petersberg, FL. Also, South Padre, TX with her dear close second family the Engen’s and best friend Lakin Engen. She also traveled internationally to Norway with family, and Venice, Italy with one of her best friends, Kaitlyn Grimes. Her most recent planned get away was also with Kaitlyn, and they were going to New York City, NY next week for Thanksgiving.

Amelia’s work endeavors included babysitting for many different families, The Whippy Dip, Twins Springs Supper Club, Accura Health Care, and Toppling Goliath where she named “Assassin” employee of the month in May 2022. With her love of coffee, she also naturally found a job at SideCar coffee shop in Cedar Falls, IA.

Amelia is survived by her father, Jayme Folkedahl (Decorah, IA), her mother Melissa Folkedahl; Dave Knutson (Ossian, IA). Brothers: Kennedy (Des Moines, IA) Drake (Decorah, IA) and Ethan (Decorah, IA). Grandparents: Alert Folkedahl, Sharon Folkedahl and Jerry McConnell, Rita McConnell.

Amelia is also survived by her aunts and uncles and their families. La Shelle Folkedahl (Chad Auer). Marc and Steph Folkedahl and their children, Micala, Kiana (Hunter & Baby Youngblood), Landan, and Jorja. Gina Folkedahl and her children, Dailen (Cole Svestka) Folkedahl and Kahler (Austin) Kafar & baby Saylor. Todd Folkedahl. Mark Holloway. Amy & Lynn Panos and their daughter Raelyn Rissman. Jamie and Emily McConnell and their sons, James and Riley. JJ and Laura McConnell and their children, Zander and Zariah.

Extended family members and their kids including. Michael McConnell. Martha & Rich Bailie. Randy & Susie McConnell. Debbie & Butch Helgeson. Cam Lee. Vicki & Lewie Olson. Steve & Terry Falck. Judy Borshiem. Ginger & Tony Johanningmeir.

She was preceded in death by her uncle, Michael Folkedahl and her aunts, Ione Folkedahl-Wilkins and Francis Rude. Also, Fran Arness and Danny & Becky McConnell. Verl & Jetty Borsheim. Robert Borsheim. Ray & Olive Novotny. Amelia & Rudolph Novotny

We appreciate the love and support from the Folkedahl, McConnell, Borsheim, and Arness Families and the countless number of individuals not listed that have impacted both Amelia’s, and our lives.

Source: Helms Funeral Home database

Phelps Cemetery
 

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