Eunice Mae Hensel

Eunice Mae Hensel (Schrank), 87, long time resident of North Fond du Lac and recent resident of Lakeview Place, Fond du Lac, passed away on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. Eunice was born January 26, 1931 in Harrisville, WI, Marquette County. She was the first of eleven children born to Walter and Esther (Krueger) Schrank. Eunice was born premature and was baptized shortly after birth. It was said that she was so small she fit in a shoebox. Her parents named her after their pastor’s daughter. Eunice means “good victory” or “she conquers”, and she did, surviving almost 88 years.



Eunice was raised in the Oakfield area. Valedictorian of the Class of ’49 she became a strong advocate for education/higher education. On August 29, 1953 she married Gerald Hensel at the Church of Peace in Fond du Lac. They shared 40 years of marriage, residing in Fond du Lac in the 1950s, Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the early 1960s, and then settled permanently in North Fond du Lac in 1965. They raised two daughters.



Eunice was first and foremost a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was truly selfless and would do anything for you. She enjoyed cooking and hosted many large family gatherings in her home over the years. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She loved and fussed over her dog, Ruby. Eunice enjoyed reading cookbooks, painting, and traveling. She volunteered for many years at the Fond du Lac Senior Center and enjoyed taking trips with the Happy Travelers and was a member of the Fond du Lac Red Hats. She traveled extensively over the years.



Eunice also enjoyed working out of the home. She worked for many years at the Fond du Lac Reporter, for Bishop Brady at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and at the Fond du Lac Department of Social Services. In 1971 she began working at the University of Wisconsin Center – Fond du Lac and was the secretary for Deans Henken and Gottfried. She retired in 1994 after 22 years at the campus. During her years at UWC-FDL she made many friends and enjoyed participating in special events such as the Madrigal Dinner.



Eunice was a long time member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Fond du Lac. She is survived by her two daughters, Janet (Steve) Logan of Sun Prairie, WI and Carolyn (Mike) Fixmer of Holmen, WI; four grandchildren, Becky (Tony) Sommars of White Bear Lake, MN, Matt (Katie) Logan of North Fond du Lac, Chrissy Preston (and special friend, Bob Richards) of Sun Prairie, WI, and Melissa Fixmer of Holmen, WI; and six great-grandchildren, Noelle and Rosalie Sommars, Kaleb and Kameron Logan, and Carter and Marleyna Preston. She is further survived by her siblings, Betty Keaton of Milwaukee, Shirley (Gerald) Klein of Lomira, Beverly (Don) Gescheidle of Fond du Lac, Lyle (Dorothy) Schrank of Berlin, Sandy Bird of Tallahassee, FL, Karen (Dan) Bosque of Fond du Lac, and Fred (Karen) Schrank of Olympia, WA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband; two brothers, DuWayne Schrank and Daniel Schrank; one sister, Darlene Jurgensmier; brothers-in-law, Hubert Hensel, Wilbur Hensel, Steven Bird and Donald Keaton; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Rymer, Gladys VandeBerg, and Carol Schrank.

Visitation will be held Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 N. Park Ave., in Fond du Lac. The funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM at the funeral home with Reverend Thomas Behnke officiating. Burial will follow in Avoca Cemetery, Oakfield, WI.



We would like to thank the staff at Lakeview Place and Hospice Home of Hope for their support, care, and compassion.



Memorials may be directed to St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church, North Fond du Lac and the Hospice Home of Hope, Fond du Lac.