Leona Josefa Rundhaug

Leona Josefa Rundhaug, age 86 of Blanchardville, died on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at the Monroe Clinic Hospital. She was born on July 25, 1924 in Forward at the Perry Center Cheese Factory, the daughter of Henry and Christina (Gruenenfelder) Gruenenfelder. She grew up there and attended the Forward School for eight years, then moved with her parents to rural Hollandale where she lived and worked at the Fairview Cheese Factory. On May 3, 1947 she married Patrick Murphy. They lived in Middleton, rural Lone Rock and Evansville. Patrick died in a farm accident on August 16, 1957. She then moved to Blanchardville with her children. She married Willard Ayen on February 10, 1959 in Blanchardville. They lived and raised the family together in Blanchardville. After the children were a little older, Leona worked at Trumpy Cheese for around 25 years, retiring in 1990. Willard died on February 18, 1989. She married Donald Rundhaug on December 29, 1990 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Hollandale. They lived in Grand Rapids, MI and Blanchardville, spending half their time in each place, with the later years spent mostly in Blanchardville. Donald died on March 29, 2007. Leona was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Blanchardville. She loved gardening, planting flowers and enjoyed traveling including going to Switzerland and Canada. She is survived by her six children: Ronald (Christine) Murphy of Blanchardville, Mary (Raymond) Tierney of Mazomanie, Linda (Roger) Sager of Monroe, Susan (Mike) Cleary of Hollandale, Jerald (Margaret) Murphy of Egan, MN and Robert Ayen of Chicago; 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Anna Minnig of Beaver Dam; Mary Jensen of DeForest; Katherine Uebersetzig of Waunakee and Hedy Wahl of Blanchardville. She was preceded in death by her parents; her three husbands, Patrick Murphy, Willard Ayen and Donald Rundhaug; a daughter Joan on November 15, 2003, granddaughter, Carolyn Sager; grandson, Patrick Murphy; two sisters, Christine Zimmerman, Lillian Bigger and a brother Henry Gruenenfelder. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 11, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Blanchardville. Fr. David Wanish will officiate. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Blanchardville. Friends may call Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Online memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.saetherfuneralhome.com. The Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville is assisting the family.