Helen B. Gudmundson

HELEN B. GUDMUNDSONHelen Bernice Gudmundson, age 83, formerly of Fond du Lac, Keshena, and Madison, died January 20, 2012 at Fox River Assisted Living in Appleton, WI. She shared her final days and hours peacefully with family at her side.Helen and her twin brother, Harry, were born September 11, 1928, the tenth and eleventh of fourteen children to Adam and Elizabeth Koch. They spent their youth on the family farm in Ogallala, Nebraska. While Helen was in high school the family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. After graduation she met Donald Gudmundson whom she married June 11, 1950. Helen and Don started their family, which grew to four children while he worked as a landscape architect. In 1963 they decided to buy their own business and the family moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, beginning 33 years of operating Gudmundson's Landscape Nursery and raising the family. Upon retirement in 1996, Helen and Don moved to Keshena, Wisconsin where they enjoyed eight years of lake life, family visits, and some travel. After Don's death in 2004, Helen moved to Madison to be closer to family. There she made many friends, enjoyed church activities and walks, and shared memorable times with family. In May 2010, she moved to Fox River Assisted Living in Appleton.Helen will be remembered for her friendliness, love for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and wonderful baking skills. She loved to bake a batch of our favorite cookies or bread to share with those around her. In addition, she enjoyed gardening and being outdoors. She and Don learned to downhill ski in middle-age and took several winter ski trips. Helen is survived by her four children: Gloria (Gene Musser) Gudmundson of Middleton, Don (Fumiko Fukuta) Gudmundson of Greeley, Co., Tom( Judy) Gudmundson of Sheboygan, Cheryl (Jeff ) Riedl of Appleton; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; twin brother, Harry (Janie) Koch of Lincoln, Nebr.; sister, Hermina (Galen) Goodale of Portland, Oregon and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, parents, and 11 siblings.



Funeral Service will be held Friday, January 27, 2012 at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home in Fond du Lac, WI. Visitation will be at 11:00 with the service to follow at 12:00. Rev. Donald Hasse will officiate. Memorials in Helen's name may be made to The Gathering Place (a day program for adults with memory loss), c/o St. Paul Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 185, Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085.Uecker-Witt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.ueckerwitt.com.