MADISON - Arlene L. Landsness Brunsell (nee Jacobs), age 105 (two days shy of 106), died on July 31, 2025, in Madison, Wis., her home since 1939. She was born to John and Ida Jacobs on August 2, 1919, in Grant County, N.D.

Arlene, the oldest of three children, was only 3 when she witnessed the tragic death of her father from a ruptured appendix. The following six formative years of her life were hard and isolated on the Dakota prairie. When their home was destroyed by fire, the family moved to Boyceville, Wis., where they had extended family. While she developed cherished lifelong friendships during her Boyceville years, the impact of the Great Depression on the family was profound, contributing to her amazing resilience and shaping her life perspectives and values.

Despite frequent health issues, Arlene excelled in school, graduating at 16 as the class valedictorian. Giving the valedictorian speech for the whole community “was one of the happiest and proudest moments of my life.” Her unquenchable love of learning, curious mind, and active intellect would be true throughout her life. Arlene finished three years of college at Whitewater Teacher’s College. “I loved school, just loved it!” However, due to financial constraints, she was not able to complete her degree, something she always regretted. When she turned 100, one cousin stated, due to her incredible and detailed memory, “Who needs a computer, when you have Arlene?!”

Arlene moved to Madison in 1939 to work, later meeting Clarence Landsness at a dance. They married on September 12, 1940. She was now part of a large, close, social Norwegian family. Her life became dedicated to family, friends and her faith. In 1945, the news of her brother Earl’s death in World War II left her with a lifelong heartache of grieving his loss.

Arlene and Clarence built the Landsness Cabinet Shop on Madison’s east side and ran it for 30 years. “These were our active, busy, happy years.” Arlene was very involved with the school PTA, Trinity Lutheran Church (where she taught Sunday School for 36 years), Mother’s Club, Turner Hall, Eagles Club, hosting many family gatherings, and enjoyed camping with the family’s infamous converted school bus. She loved the Madison lakes, where she would frequently take the neighborhood kids swimming. She was in her 70s when she participated with her grandkids at Noah’s Ark Waterpark!

In 1959, Clarence, at age 44, lost his eyesight due to a hospital staph infection after a ruptured gallbladder and later died in 1975. In 1970, Arlene started studying with the Jehovah’s Witnesses and joined in 1976 where she formed cherished lifelong friendships, for which she was extremely grateful. In 1979, Arlene married William “Bill” Brunsell, also a widower and longtime family friend. They had eight years together, before his death.

Life circumstances put Arlene into the responsibilities of a caregiver role, starting at age 3 with siblings. Then later in life with sister (MS), 1st husband (blindness), mother and mother-in-law (strokes), 2nd husband (Alzheimer’s) and adult son (disabling depression). She selflessly cared for them with strength, determination, resourcefulness, never complaining. She lived her faith.

Arlene, with the loving and kind assistance of Independent Living’s Venessa (honorary family member and beloved friend until the end) was able to live self-sufficiently in her home until the age of 95, when she moved to Oak Park Assisted Living.

Arlene saw and experienced a lot in her 106 years. She learned how to use an iPad in her 90s so she could keep track of the outside world, used Facetime and email, and until her death was constantly wanting to learn more about the world and technology…feeling sure she didn’t know enough!

She aged with grace, humor, gratitude, an inspiration to all who witnessed her gifts and creative coping skills. Every spring, with triumph in her voice, she’d state, “Well, survived another winter!”, with clear memories of those brutal childhood winters on the Dakota prairie in that isolated farmhouse. She loved nature and savored the beauty around her, eyes glowing with the wonder and awe of childlike joy.

“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.” - Eleanor Roosevelt.

Arlene is survived by her daughter, Cathy (Rick Nevill) Arends; son, Larry (Annette) Landsness; her five grandchildren, Lisa (Brian Brown) Arends, Eric (Mebbie) Landsness, Monica (Gordon) Sansaver, Lindsay (Steve) Tremlett and Abigail (Tyler Anderson) Landsness; her six great-grandchildren, Emma and Rachel Landsness; Lily and Amelia Sansaver; and Owen and Harper Tremlett; and nieces, Denise (John) Cliver and Solveig (Karl) Spielman. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Carl Landsness; husbands, Clarence Landsness and William (Bill) Brunsell; brother, Earl Jacobs; sister and brother-in-law, Verda and Don Ostrander; and niece, Diane Burling.

A memorial service will take place at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Family and friends who wish to view the service via LIVESTREAM may visit Arlene’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the service and click on "Watch Now" in the Webcast section. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Arlene L. Landsness Brunsell (nee Jacobs)

August 02, 1919 - July 31, 2025

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