Obituary of Doris Rudell

 

In Loving Memory of Doris Rudell

Doris Lorainne Rudell was her name, but to us she was Mom or Grandma.  She passed away peacefully Thursday, April 29, 2021 at the United Pioneer Nursing Home in Luck, Wisconsin and we thank every loving staff member for taking such good care of her for 9 years after she became a resident at the age of 98.

She was born August 13, 1914 in Letcher, South Dakota to Edmund and Clara Shella.  She went on to marry Milton Rudell in November, 1941.

During her 106 years she experienced much loss.  Even before Mom was two years old, her own mother died due to a ruptured appendix.  Penicillin had not been discovered yet.  When she was 14 years old, her 16 year old sister passed away from a battle with Tuberculosis.  The Tuberculosis vaccine was yet to be developed.  She lost her twin sons, Eric and Erin, shortly after they were born because there was no surfactant for their tiny premature baby lungs.  Today, babies survive every day from being born prematurely.  And it was devastating when her other only son, our brother Geoffrey, died shortly after he returned from the Vietnam War.  Years later Mom was also preceded in death by her father, two brothers, and her husband.

 Mom is survived by all six of her daughters and sons-in-law, Helen Rudell, Lynn (Tom) Budolfson, Deborah Rudell, Leah Rudell, Andrea (David) Wondra and Kessea (Perry) Karl.  She is also survived by all of her 18 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren whom she loved so very much.

 Mom witnessed the world change before  her eyes.  She lived through the great depression, several  wars, the 1918 pandemic, rampant tuberculosis, and the scare of polio inflicting harm on several children we played with right in our own little town of Frederic, Wisconsin.  She also celebrated as medical miracles arrived such as tuberculosis and polio vaccines, and the invention of penicillin which healed her children from tonsillitis, ear infections and strep throat.  After one or all of us contracted Mumps, Measles, and Whooping Cough, she was so relieved when a vaccine was available for all of her grandchildren.  Because of what Mom taught us, we were the ones who were relieved when she was one of the first in Polk County to receive two doses of the COVID 19 vaccine.

Mom was able to witness the miracle of electricity and indoor plumbing going to all parts of the country.  She watched the invention of motor vehicles and the first airplanes take flight.  She marveled at seeing the United States land on the moon and the advancement of education in our country.

From the time we remember, mom was teaching us something, and was a firm believer in lifetime learning before it was a thing.  And it was never too early to learn.  Little pieces of paper were suddenly appearing on the refrigerator with Spanish words and their English counterparts, as she took a correspondence course on Channel 2, the PBS station, of our black and white television.

 Every birthday and Christmas we were sure to receive the gift of a book that Mom knew we would love.  She gave us each our own area in the garden to plant, weed, and harvest.  She took us raspberry picking and along the way pointed out all the different trees and their leaves.  She stopped us to listen to the birds and named each one.  Mom taught us to braid our own hair by braiding dandelion crowns for our heads.  She loved nature and embraced the very first Earth Day.

Mom was well known to everyone in Frederic, especially the hundreds of children in the Frederic School District.  She not only welcomed friends of her own children into her home, but also served as a Girl Scout Leader.  Mom volunteered to be the Director of Girl Scout Plays to raise money for the Frederic swimming pool during the Polio crisis, as FDR emphasized the importance of swimming for polio victims.  But the reason so many children and adults will remember her was for her unique and enthusiastic way of  teaching High School English and her passion for getting her students to read.  Later, after returning to school and earning her Library Science Degree she became the High School Librarian, and as a fund raiser for the Library Club, students lined up to pay for nutritious snacks of Super Fudge and Orange Julius.

Mom tried to retire at the age of 65 but the urge to work with children was too great and she teamed up with Mrs. Patricia Berquist, the Kindergarten teacher and Mrs. Elvira Schmidt, the High School Home Economics teacher and invited their classes to her yard to learn about “The Hobbit”.  A few years later, when one of us opened a child care center in the large addition in the back of the house, she volunteered to be the cook.  She strongly believed in teaching the joy of eating nutritious foods such as raw vegetables with dip and sprouted lentils, and sprouted beans.  She continued to share her home in that manner for ten years.

It goes without saying that she was the best mother and grandmother anyone could wish for as she spread her love amongst all and made each one of us feel special in our own individual way.  We miss you Mom, but we know you will be waiting for us with open arms for one of those four-hugs-a-day when we come to join you.

Mom believed in the energy of the Universe, and that life continues even after death.  She chose not to have a funeral but wants anyone that knew her to go out into nature.  And as her daughters we simply ask that in memory of Mom, you plant a tree.  Feed the birds.  Or read a book.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Cremation Society of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at https://cremationsocietyofmn.com/tribute/details/41298/Doris-Rudell/obituary.html#tribute-start