Louella Kulhanek

Madison - Louella (Lou) Kulhanek, age 76, went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, May 22nd, 2016. Lou was born in Omaha, Nebraska, June 9th, 1939 to the late Lloyd and Helen Hillers.
Lou grew up in Fremont, Nebraska with her parents and two younger sisters, Linda and Margee. Lou enjoyed school and graduated as Valedictorian of her high school class of 1957. In school she was active in sports and was voted president of the Girls Athletic Association.

Lou met her husband Dennis while she was a sophomore at Fremont High School and Dennis was a freshman attending Midland College in Fremont. They both enjoyed the outdoors and spent many happy times hiking the Nebraska countryside.

They were joined in marriage on September 5th, 1958 and shortly thereafter moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where Dennis attended Colorado State University. Their two sons, Kurt J. and Craig Warren were born in Fort Collins.
After Dennis graduated in 1960, Lou moved with her family to Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. Their two daughters, Kristy Lynn and Kathrine Ann were born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. In 1968, the family moved to Madison.

In 1971, Lou started as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin. She loved learning and graduated with Honors in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She belonged to Pi Lambda Theta Honor Society in Education.
After teaching for several years, Lou worked ten years as an Area Services Specialist for the State of Wisconsin in the Department of Health and Social Services. After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1985, worsening of her MS forced her to retire in 1992.

Lou loved the many years she was able to camp with her family in Northern Wisconsin and in Colorado where they had many happy times together hiking and taking pictures.

Lou is survived by her husband Dennis, their four loving children, Kurt (Doris) of Corvallis, OR; Craig (Judy) of Wisconsin Rapids; Kristy (Joe) Gudgeon of Cedar Falls, IA; Kathy (Kurt) Schubert of Dane, and eleven special grandchildren, Jordan, Chad, Jared, and Caleb Kulhanek; Jeremy, Christopher, Rachel, Nicolas, and Hanna Gudgeon; and Collin and Clay Schubert. Also her loving sister Margee (Fay) Hiykel of Blair, Nebraska, and many nieces, nephews and cousins in Iowa and Nebraska and many other family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Lloyd Hillers and her sister Linda. Also two dear friends, Nancy (Rush) Watson and Shirley (Ivan) Vieth of Madison.

Family and friends may visit at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison from 1-2pm on Thursday, May 26, 2016 with a service beginning at 2pm. Lou will be laid to rest at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Rd
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-3434