Lillian L Harms

MADISON/MANITOWISH WATERS/REEDSBURG, Wis.-Our loving mother, grandmother, and best friend, Lillian Lundberg Harms, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, at Attic Angel Place in Middleton.  She was born on Nov. 11. 1920, in Trout Creek, Mich. to Jon Lundberg who had emigrated alone at age 16 from Sweden to the United States and to Ida Jokela who emigrated with her parents from Finland.  She was very proud of her Scandinavian heritage and was raised to be resilient, self-reliant, and hard working.  After high school, she moved to Chicago to attend business school where young women went to learn "secretarial" skills as it was called back then.  She was the seventh of ten children, five boys and five girls and is survived by one her younger sisters, Lila Landram. She married Leonard Harms on June 7, 1945, shortly before the end of World War II and returned to her husband's hometown of Reedsburg to live after THE WAR.  They raised three children, Linda (David) Kasuboski, Bruce (Gail) Harms, and Dean (Sharon) Harms, all of whom she was immensely proud.  Lillian worked as a Girl Scout leader for sixteen years, helping to create Reedsburg's Elizabeth Conley Girl Scout camp.  She took pride in working on an orderly census in 1970 and 1980 because she loved orderly record keeping from her earlier days as a secretary.  Lillian and Leonard were very civic-minded as was common in small town America of the 1950's and 1960's.  Leonard provided cars from his car dealership to the high school for drivers' education and Lillian sewed togas for the Latin Club. She and her husband moved to Madison in 1993 to be closer to their children and grandchildren who gave them great pleasure.  Leonard preceded her in death in 1996.  She is survived by her three children and four grandchildren, Lindsay and Alyssa Harms, daughters of Bruce and Gail Harms; Stephanie and Christopher Harms, children of Dean and Sharon Harms.  Lillian's step would quicken when she had the chance to play video poker at local casinos or in Las Vegas with her three children.  She also loved to play bridge, watch golf, sew and mend, and spend time with her children and grandchildren.  Lillian was known for her bright blue eyes and her eternal optimism.  She loved watching people and had a smile for everyone.  Lillian spent many months each year at the lake home that she and Leonard built in Manitowish Waters.  She loved to re-finish antique furniture, sew and make draperies and pillows for every room. The family is deeply grateful to Dr. Santiago Hernandez, St. Mary's Hospital who knew his patient so well that he could detect the subtle changes and translate medical complexities to the family.  He maintained contact with his patient and her family for years after he left his private practice to join St. Mary's Hospital. The family is also grateful to Agrace HospiceCare nurse case managers, Sara Kolk, Carey Basting, and Deirdre Youngs; social worker Megan Vinje; and Agrace physician, Dr. Tony Braus, for their wise counsel and skilled, patient, and compassionate care. Special thanks also to Jenny, the Agrace HospiceCare CNA who so gently took care of Lillian over many months. The word "sisu" means grit, determination and fortitude in the Finnish language.  She was proud of her "sisu" and expected that of her children.  Now rest in peace dear mom, grandmother, and best friend.  A private graveside service will be held in Reedsburg.  Memorials may be made in Lillian's memory, to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711 or to Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, WI  53703.