Glenna J. Gunderson

Glenna Julienne Gunderson, aged 79, of Eagle, WI, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 18, 2026, at Lake Country Medical Services in Oconomowoc, WI. Born to Walter L. and Grace A. Hansen on November 27, 1946, in Baldwin, WI, Glenna lived a life defined by kindness, resilience, and a deep devotion to those she loved. She was raised in Spring Valley, WI where she graduated from high school before attending UW-Eau Claire. During her college years, she was a proud member of the women’s basketball team, sparking a competitive spirit that remained a hallmark of her personality.

On October 29, 1966, Glenna married the love of her life, Bruce, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. Their journey together took them across the country during Bruce’s service in the United States Air Force, with stops in Illinois and Colorado before she returned to Wisconsin during his deployment to Vietnam. Whether they were settling in Brodhead, making a long term home in Waupaca, or enjoying their retirement years in Eagle, Glenna remained the steady heart of the family.
She often said her greatest joy was being married, being home, and raising her children as a most patient mother. She extended this natural gift for nurturing into her role as an in-home daycare provider for the children of local teachers in Waupaca. 

Glenna was a woman of many talents and passions. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and quilting, often collaborating with Bruce to put the finishing touches on his woodworking projects. Her kitchen was a place of comfort, famous for Christmas cookies, the tradition of Norwegian lefse, her favorite Thanksgiving lemon meringue pie, and the hearty casseroles that brought her family to the table. Beyond the home, her competitive nature shone through in the Waupaca City Recreation leagues, where she was a formidable presence in volleyball and tennis. She was notoriously the first person at the card table during family holidays, ready for a high stakes game of Hearts, Euchre, or Liverpool. 

Central to Glenna’s life was her deep, unwavering faith in Jesus, her Lord and Savior. A woman of prayer and a studious reader of the Bible, she was a dedicated servant at church, participating in leadership roles and various committees. She possessed a lovely soprano voice and took great joy in singing hymns and leading robust, heartfelt family prayers at holiday gatherings and weddings. This faith served as her anchor over two decades of health challenges, including numerous brain surgeries and metastatic cancer. Despite these trials, which largely diminished her independence, Glenna never complained or made her struggle the focus. She remained remarkably positive, always giving thanks and famously insisting she felt “wonderful” even when her circumstances clearly suggested otherwise. Bruce routinely and lovingly called her his warrior.

Known for her warm hugs and a quick sense of humor, Glenna had the ability to make everyone feel at home. Despite having strong opinions, she rarely focused on herself; instead she spent her energy recognizing the needs of others. Her wisdom and gentle spirit touched countless lives, and her legacy of compassion will continue to guide her family for generations to come. Though her hands and heart are now at rest, her love still wraps around us, soft as a whisper, bright as the morning sun.

Glenna is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Bruce, and their three children, Christine (Mark) Kienbaum of Plover, WI, Ginger (William) Conkright of Bozeman, MT, and Craig (Jennie) Gunderson of Grafton, WI. She is further survived by her eight grandchildren, Lindsey (Logan) Murphy, Hannah (Gary) Flanery, Jack Kienbaum, Luke LaCosse, Gabi LaCosse, Bruce T. Gunderson, Lydia Gunderson, and Maren Gunderson; her great-grandson, Micah Murphy; her brother, Winston (Judi) Hansen of Minnetonka, MN; and her sister, Mary Ellen (Robert) Peterson of Frederic, WI. She was preceded in death by her parents and her parents-in-law, Oscar and Thelma Gunderson.

A visitation and funeral service will be held at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 211 Main Street, Mukwonago, WI, on Friday, May 1, 2026. Visitation will take place from 9:00am to 11:00am, with the funeral service to follow at 11:00am. Guests are warmly invited to stay for a luncheon immediately following the service. For those unable to attend in person, live stream access of the service will be available through the Mount Olive Lutheran Church of Mukwonago YouTube Channel.
Per her wishes, Glenna’s cremains will be interred at the Gilman Lutheran Church Cemetery in Spring Valley at a later date.  Funeral arrangements are being coordinated by Gibson Funeral Home, Eagle, WI

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the medical teams that supported Glenna, including the staff at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Dr. Aaron Siegel and Dr. Junwei Lui of Aurora Summit Health, and Dr. Philip Yazbek and Dr. Kelly Parnell of The Neuroscience Group, Neenah, WI. The family also took great comfort in the compassionate care provided by Lake Country Health Services and North Shore Hospice in Oconomowoc, WI, during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be directed to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic in Summit, WI, to support the team that provided Glenna with exceptional care. Please visit the Aurora Health Care Foundation to give directly and indicate your donation is a memorial gift.