Lorraine (Sumiec) Runkel-Fugill

Lorraine Runkel-Fugill

Lorraine Runkel-Fugill (née Sumiec) passed away on August 27, 2022. She was 97 and fabulous.

Born on September 16, 1924, to Leo and Mary (Gromalak) Sumiec, she was raised on the family farm in rural New Lisbon, Wisconsin.

Lorraine and her life were truly exceptional. Even through hardships that ranged from growing up during the Great Depression to a divorce and the challenges of raising two young children, her positive attitude, sense of humor and determination were a constant. She always made time for her family and friends, sent a card for every occasion great or small, and was a gracious hostess. She was the person everyone called, whether it was to share news, seek advice, or simply for great conversation. Her social calendar was always full.

Lorraine was a class act. She loved a wide array of things, some of which included: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, extensive travel (all over the U.S., Europe, and South America, including Prague, Egypt, Turkey, and the Amazon), all of the stickers she could collect, great jewelry, and black coffee or licorice (especially jellybeans).

After having worked for General Motors for 20 years, Lorraine earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and continued the teaching career she had started earlier in her life. She was a substitute teacher at first, and then a full-time elementary and middle school teacher for the Elmbrook School District until her retirement in 1987.

Lorraine is survived by her daughter Donna (Daniel) Turben, son Gregg (Sheri) Runkel, grandchildren Brett (Aly) Turben, Eric (Arienne) Turben, Lindsay (Felipe) Gonzalez, Travis Runkel, Megan Runkel (Jake Johnson) and great grandchildren Zoe, Sydney, and Adahlia. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Mary Sumiec, her husband, Richard Fugill, and her siblings Marie, Bernice, Walter, Anna, Leo, Edwin, Margaret, Bernard and Eileen.

We remember...

 Favorite book was Pride and Prejudice
Collected loons long after she stopped enjoying them
Loved her family
Habits of a teacher never really left her after retirement (stickers! ribbons!)
Always eager to share financial advice
Forged a lifelong friendship with Joyce Svendsen while they both worked as full-time teachers and part-time at Boston Store
Loved reading and sharing poetry and could still recite The Burial of Sir John Moore from memory!
Enjoyed traveling
Amazing sense of humor
Made a point of keeping in touch
Infectious laugh
Lover of rhubarb and black jellybeans
Passionate about politics
Loved listening to NPR
Non-judgmental
Classy to the core

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