Ella “Lou” (Sanner) Gulrud, A longtime Waukesha resident, died on Saturday August 18, 2018 at Seasons Hospice at the age of 88. She was born in Spencer WI on October 21, 1929 the daughter of Ira and Ola Sanner (nee Birkhead). On August 25, 1951 she married Orville J. Gulrud. Ella earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and sought her Master’s degree in Library Science from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She was a wife and mother of 5 until her youngest started 1st grade then opened her own preschool at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church for 7 years. She taught as a substitute teacher in Waukesha and was involved in their church at Christ the Servant. She was a world traveler with her husband as a missionary to several countries as well as to India while her husband taught in Agra, India.
She loved her family above all else especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be sadly missed by her family and many friends. She is survived by her children, Gary Gulrud of Sartell, MN, Linda (Fredrick) Graebner Smith of Sussex, Amy (Jerrold) Woodzick of Town of Vernon, Thomas (Michele) Gulrud of North Prairie and Jane Smart of Janesville. She was the devoted grandmother to Julia Grace Gulrud, Rebecca Graebner, Adam Woodzick, Patrick (Amy) Woodzick, Jaime, Adam, Elijah, Judah, John, Lydia, Andrew, Micah, Ezra, Julia Mae, Eden and Isaac Gulrud, Christine (Matt) Adams, Michelle Smart, and Evan (Amber) Chiconas. Great Grandmother of Ella, Norah, Jack, Lily, Henry and Hunter. She is further survived by her brother Ira Dale (Linda) Sanner, many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Orville, Brother and Sisters-James Sanner, Ethel Wade, Freda Buck, Melvin Sanner, Edith Warren.
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 24, 2018 from 12:00 Noon until time of the 2:00PM funeral service at Waukesha Bible Church, S53 W24079 Glendale Rd., Waukesha, WI 53189. Interment will be at North Prairie Cemetery. Memorials in Lou’s name are appreciated to the family, to be distributed to three mission groups near to their hearts.