Obituary for Gurine Eggen

She was born January 21, 1936, in St. Paul, Minn., to Russell and Mildred (Vordsted) Whitlock. Gurine moved to West Salem in the sixth grade where she also attended and graduated from West Salem High School. She also attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. In May of 1959, Gurine married Kenneth Eggen. Because Ken was a pastor in the Lutheran Church, they served parishes in Iowa such as Kellogg, Elk Creek, Andover, and Waterloo. They also lived in Milwaukee and Ohio before returning back to the area and living in La Crescent. In addition to raising her family and serving as a pastor’s wife, Gurine worked a couple jobs such as a clerk in the Lutheran Bookstore and operating an in home daycare. Gurine enjoyed the daycare because she loved spending time with the children. Gurine, along with Ken, enjoyed working on stained glass together. Gurine also enjoyed sewing and walking. Ken preceded Gurine in death on May 9, 2011.

Survivors include her son, Daniel; a daughter, Deborah “Gigi” Anderson of La Crescent; grandchildren, Mark, Lexi, Catherine, Madeleine and Olivia; a sisters-in-law, Betty Whitlock, Mildred Wohlert, and Charlotte Finseth; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Ken, Gurine was preceded in death by her parents; her grandson, Dayton; and her brother, Warren Whitlock.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m., Monday, July 22, 2024, at Holmen Lutheran Church, 228 Morris St., Holmen, Wis. Pastor Matt Toso will officiate. Burial will be in Neshonoc Cemetery, West Salem. A visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service Monday at the church. Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Jostad Chapel, West Salem, is in charge of arrangements.

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