Kathryn Alice Trudell Madison, Wisconsin Obituary

Kathryn Alice Trudell

MADISON-Kathryn Alice Trudell, age 63, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, at Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wis. She was born on Aug. 31, 1955, in Eau Claire, the daughter of Edmund and Doris (Sainty) Trudell. She married Lorne Hillier on July 31, 1999. Kathy graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1982 with dual degrees in soil science and horticulture and earned a master’s degree in soil science in 1988. She worked for over 30 years in the electric power industry as an environmental scientist and advocate for research that would improve the industry and protect the environment. She retired from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in 2016. She was an active member of the Madison Knitters’ Guild and served on several nonprofit boards, most recently REAP Food Group and Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation. During the four decades Kathy lived in Madison, she built a vast and steadfast community of friends. She cherished the deep connections she made through her knitting, sewing, spinning, and exercise groups. The people she met through work, hobbies, or the neighborhood often became lifelong friends. Kathy was a maker. She sewed trinket bags and quilt squares. She baked cookies and quiches, and loved trying new recipes. But her great passion was knitting. She dyed wool and spun it into yarn. She knitted sweaters, baby hats, shawls, and fingerless gloves. She knitted through every conference call and always carried a new project in her purse. She even took her spinning wheel camping. She felt a strong connection to the Driftless Area, and spent many weekends at the cabin she and Lorne built near Gays Mills. She loved to walk the trails with her dog and hunt for morel mushrooms. But mostly she loved to watch how the landscape changed with the seasons. Each spring offered a fresh opportunity to re-teach her husband to identify wildflowers. Each summer brought an abundance of ticks and mosquitoes, and even they couldn’t dampen her enthusiasm for the place. Some people see retirement as an opportunity to relax, but Kathy did even more. She gardened and raised chickens. She canned pickles, beets, and jam. She read voraciously, flagging the passages she wanted to remember and copying whole paragraphs into a separate journal. She skied, and kayaked, and biked. She took a bread baking class. She joined the YMCA and enlisted a trainer. She traveled to Nova Scotia and Iceland and Scotland (twice). Her insatiable curiosity drove her to learn as much as she could from every experience. She had so much more she wanted to do. Kathy’s zeal for life was infectious. She always strived to do better and be better, and we are all better for having known her. Kathy was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves behind her husband, Lorne Hillier; stepdaughter, Cassandra Willyard (Soren Wheeler); 3-year-old granddaughter, Stella; sister, Mary Muenkel (Brian); brother, Rick Trudell (Brenda); her nieces, nephew, and many dear relatives and friends, as well as her dog, Max. A memorial service will be held at THE GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER’S BRASSWORKS, 214 Waubesa St, Madison at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, 2019. Donations in her honor may be made to REAP Food Group (http://reapfoodgroup.org), the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (http://www.wisconservation.org), or the South Central Library System Foundation (https://www.sclsfoundation.org). Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420
August 31, 1955 - February 11, 201908/31/195502/11/2019
Share Obituary:

Share a memory

Add to your memory
Photos/Video
Candle
Mementos

Tribute wall

A
Amy Verheyden
March 18, 2019
I'm so sorry to hear the news of your wife, Lorne. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during such a difficult time. I hope the good memories of what you shared together will provide comfort in the days ahead.
K
Kent and Sue Zammit
March 11, 2019
Lorne, even though several weeks have passed, when I think of Kathy, I still cannot believe she is no longer a phone call away, and my greatest sympathies go out to you because I know how much stronger you must feel that. Kathy truly was a one-in-a-million person - so w... Continue Reading
M
Mary Hamel
March 8, 2019
I am so saddened and so shocked to hear of Kathy's death. Loren, we're just starting to know you, but I first met Kathy years ago - in the late 70s or early 80s. We had mutual friends and shared a love of skiing, including skiing in WY. She was always generous and off... Continue Reading
S
Sue Gunderson Bjelke
March 3, 2019
Loren, I am so sorry for your loss. I went to Sunday school at First Congregational church with Kathy and also attended Central Jr. High and Memorial with her. Although we were not close, she was always so kind me. My mother adored her mom, who was also a kind and tho... Continue Reading
A
Amy Young Deuble
February 22, 2019
Oh, I am so saddened to hear of Kathy's passing. I have known Kathy for over 63 years. We were neighborhood friends and had reconnected on FB. We went to Arlington Heights together and on to Central Junior High and then Memorial. We were always mad when we could not be i... Continue Reading
A
Annette Mosley
February 21, 2019
Kathy will forever be one phenomenal woman never forgotten! Definition of a FRIEND!
L
Laurie Sokolak
February 21, 2019
My deepest condolences Loren. What a tragedy.
Roses was posted for Kathryn Alice Trudell.
Roses was posted for Kathryn Alice Trudell.
K
Kathy
February 20, 2019
Lorne, so sorry to hear this! Kathy was a truly warm and engaging person. Kathy Esposito, 137 Talmadge Street.
A
Andy Ratzlaff
February 20, 2019
Thank you to Kathy and Loren for allowing me to visit and stay at the cabin. I am grateful for all the times spent there enjoy that amazing place. I can understand why Kathy enjoyed walking the trails and spending time there.
M
Mary Jo Harris
February 20, 2019
I met and got to know Kathy when we served on the Madison Knitters' Guild board. She was a quiet but calming and supportive voice during times of stress in the Madison knitting community. I respected her a lot for that. She will be missed.

Mary Jo Harris