Pauline Bruhnke

Pauline (Polly) Vaughn Bruhnke passed away at home on February 2, 2023 surrounded by family.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was born February 9, 1934 on a farm near Mabel, Minnesota, the daughter of Elmer and Lillie (Vatland) Thompson. She graduated from Winona High School in Winona, MN in 1951. She then attended and graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing/Viterbo in LaCrosse, WI in 1954.  She married Eugene H. Bruhnke on October 2, 1954 at 1st Evengelical Lutheran Church in LaCrosse, WI.

She worked as an RN at St. Francis Hospital for 1 year before moving to Madison, WI. She then worked at the Wisconsin Diagnostic Center until they closed. Before retirement, she worked at the Madison Convalescent Center.

She was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church for over 50 years. She served as Secretary/Treasurer of her AAL branch for 25 years and was a volunteer at Bethesda House of Thrift for 15 years.

She was a voracious reader, loved gardening, playing cards and travelling anywhere. The family loved camping out summer weekends. After retirement, they spent 14 winters in Laferia, TX.

She is survived by her sister Linda (Joe) McCabe; daughter Laurie Koch; son Paul (Deborah); grandson Jeff (Cherra) Koch; grandson Ryan Koch; great granddaughter Ellie Koch; step granddaughter(s) Katherine & Danielle Stone; (Rogelio Banuelos); great step granddaughter(s) Alexandria Stone, Briella Stone, Shyana Stone, Daisy Banuelos, Dalia Banuelos; great step grandson Devin Banuelos; brother in law Truman (Lorna) Reynolds, Joe (Linda) McCabe and many nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by her husband Eugene, parents Elmer and Lillie, six sisters and one brother.

The family would like to pass on a special thank you to all the wonderful staff from Agrace Hospice for their kindness, compassion and assistance.

Services will be held on Friday May 5, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church 1 S. Rosa Road Madison, WI 53705 beginning with visitation from 11:00am – 12:00pm followed by a service at 12 noon, with lunch to follow. Memorials can be made to Grace Lutheran Church or Agrace Hospice. Eugene and Pauline will then be laid to rest together at Sunset Memory Gardens, following the service/luncheon.

Cress Funeral Home

3610 Speedway Rd.

Madison, WI 53705