Eleanor Mae (Truelsen) Wulf

Mrs. Eleanor M. Wulf, 87, of Des Moines, Iowa, and formerly of Park View, Iowa, died Sunday evening, December 15, 2019, at Luther Park Trinity Center, Des Moines with family members by her side. 

Our Mom, Eleanor, was born in Clinton  May 21, 1932, the daughter of Albert and Roseland (Walker) Truelsen.  She grew up on a farm just south of DeWitt in Eden Township during the Great Depression.  On August 20, 1950, Mom married the love of her life, Wilbert H. Wulf at Grace Lutheran Church, De Witt.  She was the mother of four children, Linda, Gordon, Susan and Joel. 

Mom was devoted to her family and family came first for her.  No birthday passed without a dinner of choice and birthday cake. No holiday was complete without large family dinners and no Christmas without steamed pudding, a family tradition.  Mom was our constant, our head cheerleader, teacher and counselor, healer of wounds, master repurposer, family historian and multi-purpose support system.  Mom taught us by example and by our working side by side with her.  Mom was a skilled craftsman of the needle arts, particularly quilting, with the technique of appliqué being a favorite.  For many years she raised large gardens of vegetables and flowers and celebrated the changing seasons with food.  Her creativity and vision created a warm and welcoming environment in which her children, family and friends were well cared for and comfortable.  Mom was “green” before green was cool.   Frugality was part of her being.  Recycling, composting, repurposing and practicing the lessons she learned as a child.  We will forever hear her:  1) “use what you’ve got” 2) “Make do” 3) “Use it up” 4) “Wear it out” and, as every child, grandchild and great grandchild learned; 5) “What you take is what you eat.”   Mom was a woman of faith.  Her faith sustained her through the volatility of life and provided comfort in time of need.  She was a woman of grace and dignity and acted as a role model for her children and family.

Mom is survived by her children,  Linda (Ron) Peeters of Eldridge, Gordon (Mary) Wulf of East Moline, Susan (Harry) Vossoughi of Red Bluff, California and Joel (Steven Pokorny) Wulf of Urbandale; grandchildren, Andy (Kristen) Peeters, Mindy (David) Kane, James (Kasia Wiacek) Vossoughi, Sara (Joel) Munoz, John (Emilie Foyle) Vossoughi and Jason (Darcy Falvey) Vossoughi and great-grandchildren, Annabelle Peeters, Abigail Peeters, Clayton Peeters, Joshua Kane, Lillian Munoz, Arielle Munoz and Louis Vossoughi; a sister, Helen Johnson of Eldridge. 

Preceding Eleanor in death were her parents; her husband, Wilbert on March 31, 2011; brothers, William and Leonard Truelsen and a sister, Alice Stuedemann.

The family will receive friends at Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. Friday, December 20, 2019.  A Service of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday in the church with the Rev. Eric Obermann officiating.  Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery, DeWitt.  Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Women's Missionary League at Faith Lutheran Church, 221 Malone Drive Branson, Missouri 65616 or the Staff Education Fund at Luther Park Trinity Center, 1555 Hull Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50316.

Pallbearers will be Andy Peeters, Mindy Kane, Sara Munoz, John Vossoughi, Jason Vossoughi and Joshua Kane.

A photo tribute may be viewed and condolences expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.

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