Eileen Mandley

MADISON - Dorothy Eileen (Luke) Mandley, 94, passed from this life into eternity at Oak Park Place in Madison, Wis., on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.  She was born on April 16, 1928, in Lebanon, Ill., to George and Lena (Jessop) Luke, one of seven children.  

Her father died when she was a child and despite the financial difficulties brought about by his death, the depression and World War II, Eileen went on to graduate from Southern Illinois Normal School (now Southern Illinois University) in Carbondale, Ill. With money being very limited despite her academic scholarship, she worked at a local café with her lunch being her pay, and as she told her family “at least she had something to eat every day.” Eventually she qualified as an elementary school teacher, returned to Lebanon and began teaching while continuing to work as a waitress at the local cafe.  There she met MSgt Irving Mandley who was stationed nearby and on May 24, 1952, they married in Lebanon.

After leaving the U.S. Air Force, Eileen and Irv eventually settled in the Madison area in 1956 where Eileen remained the rest of her life.  Soon after arriving in Madison, they became members of Calvary Gospel Church (CGC).  Along the way, they had four children, Kenneth, Lynn, Keith and Laurie.  Eileen reentered the workforce as the librarian at Midwestern University Research Association (which later became the Physical Sciences Laboratory of the University of Wisconsin) where Irv was already employed.  When her position was eliminated several years later, she went to work for Wisconsin Power and Light where she remained until retirement.  Eileen being Eileen, soon started teaching at Calvary Christian Academy where she remained for several years.

Eileen came from a rich spiritual heritage from her mother’s family with several pastors in her lineage going back to the 1700s.  From an early age Eileen’s life was centered on her relationship with Jesus Christ. God, her family, and her church family at CGC were her chief pursuits.  She loved teaching God’s Word and taught Sunday School for over 50 years as well as teaching individual Bible Studies until Covid restrictions came into being.  In addition, she was active in the Women’s Ministry, coordinating wedding and funeral meals and other activities until just a few years ago.  Eileen and Irv passed on their love for God and the church to her children and grandchildren, with most of them active in formal or informal areas of ministry.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Irving on July 31, 2014; sisters, Elizabeth Johnson, Marion Ogden and Frances Warren; and brothers, Robert and Richard Luke.  She is survived by her children, Kenneth (Connie) Mandley, Lynn (Russell) Morey, Keith (Kris) Mandley and Laurie (John) Grant; sister, Faith Waterson; ten grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, other family and friends, particularly at church and The Arbors Independent Living.

Funeral services will be held at CALVARY GOSPEL CHURCH, 5301 Commercial Ave., Madison at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, with Pastor Roy Grant officiating.  Visitation will be held at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Gospel Church Spanish Ministry. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.  

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420