West (Megan) Elizabeth Scheel

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved daughter, West (Megan) Scheel.  West was the oldest of our three children, raised in our loving home in Madison Lake, MN.

Our quiet daughter would have wanted this to be simple.  She would not have wanted all this attention.  We’ll try to honor that, but we wish West could know all this outpouring of love.

West was born on January 19, 2004, in Eau Claire, WI.  After moving to Fargo, her favorite things in the early years of her life were to play with her best friend, cousin Miranda, and to spend time with all her grandparents.   As a baby she wasn’t afraid of much and was always ready to take on something new.  She kept that curiosity and eagerness to learn throughout her entire life.  She was quiet and reserved, but a friend to everyone. 

In her younger days, West spent her time dancing and tapping at Mankato Ballet Company, playing soccer, and getting her black belt in Tae Kwan Do.  She attended Mankato East High School and participated for a short time in cross-country and track where she met her wonderful friend, Charleigh.  During her high school years, she found her love of ceramics, knitting, and writing.  She could spend hours in the ceramics room at school where her beauty came out through her artwork.  West loved to knit, learning first from her Nana, and then teaching herself more complicated patterns, making many beautiful and amazing pieces.   Her knitting went where she went.  She loved hockey and watching Luke and Maddie play.  She would find her spot on the bleachers and knit while she watched.  How she loved to write!  She had aspired to write a book one day. 

She loved to learn.  She taught herself Norwegian and loved her time in Norway last year with her dad.  She had fun teaching herself how to cook new vegetarian dishes and enjoyed having her family as her taste testers. 

West loved animé and listening to podcasts, something she enjoyed sharing with her mom.  West’s favorite things to do were to hang out with her friends, Charleigh and Milo, at the Coffee Hag and to spend time with her “babies,” her cats, Olly and Luey.  She was passionate about her fur babies.  Sometimes we thought her visits home from college were less about seeing her human family and more about spending time with her feline family.

West lived her life with such a caring and open heart.  She wanted to make the world a better place for everyone and would go out of her way to make those around her feel like they belonged.  She looked for the best in people and accepted everyone unconditionally.  She was a wonderful advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. The world truly needs more people like her.

We loved West with all our hearts, and we are devastated as we think of our future without her.  All the different goals and wishes she had, graduating with an Environmental Science major with a minor in Geology, traveling through Ireland, to name a few, are gone with our beautiful daughter.  We will forever hold her close in our minds and our hearts, we hope you will as well.

For us, there were no signs of the struggles that must have been happening.  West was planning to come home the weekend before what is now the week of her funeral to celebrate Olly and Luey’s birthdays.  To anyone reading this, please know that there are people who want to help, who want to listen, and who care and love you more than you may know.  Please don’t ever be scared to ask for help and to share your struggles.  You are not alone. 

West is survived by so many family members and friends who will miss her terribly; her father Brandon Scheel and her mother Kim Scheel; her younger brother, Luke and her younger sister, Maddie; Grandfather Steve D. Scheel and wife Eileen, Grandmother (Nana) Sandee Wagner and husband Jack, Grandmother Barb Olund, Uncle Steve M. Scheel and wife, Tiffany, Aunt Stacy Davis and husband Matt, Aunt Shari Champion and husband Joe.  Along with many cousins and family members.

Preceded in death by Grandfather Roger Olund and Cousin Adam.

Funeral service will be held 1:00p.m. Friday, April 28, 2023 at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato. Visitation will be held from 4 - 7 p.m., Thursday, April 27, 2023 at Mankato Mortuary. Private family burial will be at Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to: Mankato Area Foundation: the West Scheel Memorial Fund.

https://mankato.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3981.