The Wewoka community is mourning the loss of a longtime public servant.

Peggy Ellwanger, who served on the Wewoka City Council for several decades, passed away Sunday, Aug. 29 at the age of 83.

Wewoka Mayor Paige Sherry reflected upon Ellwanger’s legacy of service to the City of Wewoka.

“Not only did the family of Peggy Ellwanger lose a dear loved one, Wewoka too suffered a tremendous loss early Sunday morning,” Sherry said. “Peggy’s 30 plus years of service and dedication to the City of Wewoka is to be commended. I was fortunate enough to have the pleasure of serving with Peggy over the last seven years in my role as mayor. I have learned so much from her. Peggy asked questions, she wanted and expected answers, and she truly cared about making Wewoka a better place to live! She devoted all her time and energy tending not only the citizens in her ward, but the town of Wewoka as a whole. The City Council will not be the same without Peggy!”

According to Sherry, Peggy was set to receive an honor at the Wewoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but the banquet was cancelled over coronavirus concerns.

“Peggy had been selected to receive the ‘Wewoka Distinguished Service Award’ at our local chamber banquet that had to be cancelled this past week due to Covid related issues. When we can reschedule the banquet, Peggy and her legacy will still be honored during the award presentation.”

In a 2015 interview with the Seminole Producer/Wewoka Times, Ellwanger said that community involvement is critical in the survival of any community.

“I have always been a big believer in community service,” she said. “I don’t believe that we reach a point to where we have finished giving to the community. I believe that if a person believes in their community, they must give to it.”

In 2009, Ellwanger received the prestigious Freida Mosley Award for her voluntary efforts in making a difference in the lives of clients with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

The award was presented to Ellwanger by her Director Howard Hendrix during the recent OKDHS State Volunteer Award Ceremony held in Oklahoma City. The award is one of the three top awards given to state DHS workers.

Funeral services have been scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 2 under the direction of Stout-Phillips Funeral Home in Wewoka.