Grace Elizabeth (Bunke) Swanson

MADISON-Grace Elizabeth (Bunke) Swanson, age 84, died peacefully on Monday, February 8, 2010. She was born April 24, 1925, in Lewiston, MN., the daughter of Paul Christoph and Ragna (Boe) Bunke. Grace graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1942. Her first job was nurse\'s aide at Winona General Hospital. She completed nurses training at Kahler Hospitals School of Nursing in Rochester, MN, under the U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps, as an RN in 1946. She worked in Rochester as a nurse and then went back to school, earning a B.S. degree in Nursing Education from the University of Minnesota in 1951. Grace then worked in Minneapolis as assistant science teacher at St. Mary\'s School of Nursing, and then the newborn nursery at St. Joseph\'s Hospital in Ft. Dodge, IA. She also taught nursing students and worked as supervisor of student health services at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. While at Concordia, she met the love of her life, Sigurd Swanson, and they were married in 1958. Grace took time off from nursing to raise their family. Together, they lived in St. Paul, MN, Export, PA, and northern Wisconsin. Grace started nursing again in the Ashland hospital and as a public health nurse. Later they lived in Shakopee and Chaska, MN, where she worked as a public health nurse. She and Sig retired in 1992 and moved back to the Ashland, WI, area, where she worked as a Hospice nurse and volunteered countless hours for the church. She enjoyed writing, especially poetry, and gardening. After being diagnosed with Parkinson\'s disease in 2007, she moved back to Rushford, MN, briefly and then to the Madison area. She battled Parkinson\'s disease and related issues until her death. Grace is survived by her children, Paul (Dianne) Swanson, Mary Swanson (James Wedekind) and Lori (Brian) Strayer; three grandchildren, Matth ew Wedekind, Jasper and Jade Strayer; two sisters, Esther Erdmann and Myrtle Otis; four brothers, Robert, Wilton, Stanley and Clinton Bunke and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Sigurd Swanson in 1997; her parents; and siblings, Paul, Edgar, Melvin, Earl and Elfrieda Bunke, and Marilyn Smaby. Funeral services will be held at ST. LUKE\'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 12, 2010. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Ave., Middleton from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, February 11, 2010 and also on Friday at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or to a Hospice organization of the donor\'s choice. Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or to a Hospice organization of the donor\'s choice. Visitation: Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL HOME, 7435 University Ave., Middleton from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, February 11, 2010 and also on Friday at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Service: Funeral services will be held at ST. LUKE\'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7337 Hubbard Ave., Middleton at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 12, 2010