Mary Louise (Doran) Rudie 93, passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the Valley VNA in Neenah. Mary Lou was born to parents Arthur and Sadie (Weller) Doran at her Grandfather's home in the Town of Mukwa on January 24, 1932.  She was the oldest of four children, lived in Royalton, WI and attended Royalton State Grade School and graduated from Little Wolf High School, Manawa, May 1950.

Mary Lou married Sterling Rudie on September 9, 1950, and moved to Menasha to start their married life together.  They had four daughters: Susan (Jerry) Ott, Sandra Helmer, Debra (David) Jones and Bonnie (Timothy) Miller.  They were blessed with four grandchildren: Christopher Ott, Jackson (Angie Simon) Helmer, Katrina (Timothy Roberts) Helmer and Bradley Miller.

After raising her family, at age 40, Mary returned to school to continue her education at Fox Valley Technical College, graduating as a nurse in January 1975.  This was quite unheard of in this time period and she was the talk of the neighborhood.  She started her career as a nurse at Theda Clark Hospital, working on various floors for the next fifteen years.  In 1990, Mary Lou and Sterling moved from Appleton to "the cottage" in Royalton, living along the Little Wolf River.  Mary Lou started working at Waupaca County Mental Health Institution, ending her career after working there for ten years.

Mary Lou was an excellent nurse, known for being able to lend strength and comfort to patients and their families going through a rough time.  She was an outstanding seamstress that could sew beautiful creations without using a pattern.  Even in her later years, Mary's hands were always busy with embroidery work.

She is survived by her four daughters; her brother, Leonard Doran, brother-in-law Iver (Diane) Rudie and sister-in-law Ann Rudie as well as nieces and nephews.  Thank you to special friend Millie Sieracki for always remembering Mom with her beautiful cards and visits.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her spouse of 70 years, Sterling, an infant son, parents: Arthur and Sadie Doran, stepmother Gladys Doran, parent-in-laws: Edwin and Amanda Rudie, and step-mother-in-law Lydia Rudie.  She is further proceeded by brother Andrew Doran, sister and brother-in-law Teresa and Douglas Jones, sister-in-law Mary Doran, niece Pattie Lambert and nephew Robert Doran, sisters-in-law Betty (LeRoy) Jensen and Faith (Duane) Brown, June (Duaine) Kaepernick, brothers-in-law Leslie Rudie, and David Rudie.

The family would like to thank the staff at Valley VNA for their heartfelt care provided to Mom over the past 4 years.  Special thanks to Crystal, Chaplain Cliff and the staff from Heartland Hospice for their compassionate care and spiritual comfort; you have made the past few years so much better for Mom.

Services for Mary Lou will be held at 11 AM, on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Brettschneider Trettin-Nickel Funeral Chapel. Visitation will begin at 9 AM at the funeral chapel. Interment will take place at Royalton Cemetery.