Edna Nagle

Edna Nagle was born on April 7, 1929 as the oldest child of Henry and Marcella Lange; her siblings were Raymond, Delbert and Rosemary. Edna grew up on farms in southwestern Wisconsin. This was a time when most farms did not have central heating, indoor plumbing or electricity. Her father lost his farm during the Depression, so the family no longer had the stability of having their own farm. Her mother died when Edna was completing high school, and despite her desire to leave farming life, she stayed to help her father and siblings.
Edna married her long-time friend and neighbor, Leo Moran in 1953. Edna and Leo had been high school classmates and their families had lived on adjacent farms near Darlington, WI. They started married life in Madison where Leo attended the University. Edna and Leo had seven children: Mike (Glennda), Tom (Lori), Susan (Gary), Dennis, John (Deb), Kevin (Melissa), and Erin. The family also lived in Arizona and then California until Leo's death, at which time they moved to Madison to be closer to their Wisconsin relatives.
Edna married Francis Nagle in 1968. Fran was widowed with three children: Patty (Dennis), John, and Ann (Robert). They started married life with their ten children in Madison where Fran was a professor at the University, and soon added an eleventh child to the family, Dan (Gretchen). In addition to time spent with their large immediate and extended families, Edna and Fran enjoyed many social activities, traveled extensively in North America and Europe, and visited India and Brazil.
Edna has fourteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Kathleen (Brian and son, Clay), Colleen (Adam), Michelle, Dan (Amanda), Kristina (Brock), Tyler, Grace, Ella, Elise, Alec, Julia, Shawn (Marie), Mary, and Frank.
Edna regretted not having been able to attend college. Because of this, she was especially proud that all of her children received college degrees. However, the lack of a college education rarely prevented Edna from accomplishing what she wanted to do. Edna combined the work ethic and self-reliance she learned on the farm with her innate artistic ability and high energy.
As a young woman, Edna lived on Langdon Street and worked at Meuer Photo in Madison. She did hand coloring of black and white photo portraits and met with Frank Lloyd Wright to hear his requirements. Edna had a variety of skills and sometimes assisted friends with their home improvement projects and small businesses. Her skills included home decorating, upholstery, tailoring, catering, and a variety of arts and crafts. She took on a wide range of projects, from making hundreds of cream puffs, to sewing elaborate Halloween costumes for her Grandchildren and doing alterations on the gowns of the Rose Parade Court in Pasadena.
Edna was an active participant in the social aspects of her husbands' professional careers, hosting many dinner parties, broom-ball games at the neighborhood ice rink, and boarding out-of-town guests from all over the world. When there were fewer children at home, she had a part time job. Edna also put her skills and energy to good use in volunteer activities. Edna was active at Blessed Sacrament Parish and School, and volunteered at UW Hospital and the St. Vincent DePaul food pantry.
All of these experiences resulted in Edna living a busy life. She was also the keeper of genealogy information and family photos, generously sharing with anyone that was interested. Edna particularly enjoyed hearing and telling those "small world" stories that came up with her and Fran's and their family's travels. Edna was very good at engaging with people she did not know and would often discover a common connection.
Edna liked to say that she had never been sick a day in her life. This was not completely accurate but her energy and stamina made it seem like a possibility. Despite declining health in her later years, Edna thrived at BrightStar Memory Care.
Edna was strong-willed and independent. However, she was fortunate to have all through her life the support of her family and many others. When her first husband died, Edna (at age 35) was left to raise seven children under the age of eleven, including one-year-old twins. There were many friends in California and Wisconsin who provided assistance. This included extended family, coworkers, church members, and neighbors. Leo Moran's parents and siblings, Edna's siblings, friends in South Pasadena, and friends from Edna's previous time in Madison provided great assistance when the family moved back to Madison. This is the principal example of the type of support Edna received throughout her life. There are so many good friends who were supportive over the years that it is impossible to even begin to name them but hopefully they know how much they are appreciated.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2115 Rowley Ave, Madison. There will be a luncheon at noon in the Friary (school basement). Edna did not want flowers at her funeral; instead she requested that memorial contributions be made to the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (via their website www.adrc.wisc.edu or checks can be made out to W-ADRC and sent to: Division of Geriatrics, 2870 University Avenue, Suite 106, Madison, WI 53705). Please share your memories of Edna.

Cress Center
6021 University Ave.
Madison, WI 53705
(608) 2138-8406