Laura Elizabeth (Nelsen) Gruener

Laura Elizabeth (Nelsen) Gruener died January 16th, 2012 at the age of 98. She was a resident at Royal Oaks Royal Plaza in Sun City, Arizona. Laura was born April 19th, 1913, in Boon Lake Twp Renville Co., Minnesota; the daughter of Soren Christian Nelsen and Anna Marie Petersen both from Denmark. She was the 4th child born of 8. The family lived in Hutchinson, Minnesota until 1921 when they moved to Milltown, Wisconsin and later relocated to Luck and North Luck, Wisconsin.

Laura attended the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she graduated in 1936 and continued her education at the School of Public Health Nursing at the University of Minnesota. From 1936-1939, she performed general nursing duties in Wisconsin, Michigan, and California. From 1941-1943, she was a county nurse in Wisconsin.

Laura joined the United States Army Nurses Corp in November 1943 and served in Luzon, Philippines and New Guinea in the 43rdFHSoW Pacific. She was later honorably discharged obtaining the rank of Captain on June 22, 1946 from Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. From, 1947-1948 she continued her Nursing career at the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During 1948 she was a school nurse in Red Wing. After she left Minnesota, she traveled to Anchorage, Alaska in 1957 where she became a Public Health Nurse with the Greater Anchorage Health District.

Laura met and fell in love with Stanley E. Gruener who resided in Spenard, Alaska. They were married February 6, 1960 at the Central Lutheran Church in Anchorage, Alaska. After leaving Alaska they lived in Washington, Texas and finally settled in Arizona. Laura’s favorite hobbies were flowers, gardening, sewing and playing bridge.

Laura has one surviving sister Helen M. (Nelsen) Strang of Anchorage, Alaska with many nieces and nephews. Laura is preceded in death by her husband, Stanley, parents Soren Christian and Anna Marie, sisters Inez (Nelsen) Brinkman, Ruth(Nelsen) Stenstad, and brothers Harold, Carl, and twins Ralph and Ernie.

In lieu of flowers please remember Laura by making a thoughtful donation to your local rescue mission.

Sunland Memorial Park and Mortuary was entrusted with Laura’s care. Please visit www.sunlandmemorial.com to leave online condolence messages for her family.