Tura Hoel Graber

MCFARLAND/STOUGHTON -- Tura Hoel Graber passed away on December 26, 2021 at Milestone Senior Living in Stoughton, her residence for the past four years. She was born February 9, 1933 to Hartman and Marjorie (Hecker) Olson and grew up on the Olson family farm in McFarland (Town of Dunn).

Tura graduated from Madison East High School in 1951 and married Richard Hoel in 1952. They settled on a portion of her parents' land, where she was a homemaker as their family grew to five children. She enjoyed teaching her kids how to fish the Yahara River, a curiosity for eclectic knowledge, and about the native people who lived on her family's farmland long before settlers came.

Tura was a licensed foster parent to dozens of babies and toddlers, she earned her "pin money" by decorating wedding and special occasion cakes for many years, was an avid knitter and prolific scrapbooker. She was a nurse at heart--from her childhood years of tending farm animals, through the rest of her years rescuing orphaned wildlife and caring for her backyard-farm menagerie. Fittingly, she returned to school in the early 1970s to earn her R.N. Associate Degree from Madison Area Technical College. She worked at Skaalen Nursing Home for several years. It was during that time Tura married Everett "Andy" Anderson, especially enjoying their leisure time camping and road tripping.

Later, Tura provided respite care for infants and children with medical needs throughout the metro Madison and Dodgeville areas. She married Richard Graber in 1983 and lived in Mineral Point until a few years after his death from a farming accident in 1985. Tura's personal struggles persisted throughout her life. We are grateful that she is finally at peace.

Tura is survived by her five children, John Hoel, Jim (Kate) Hoel, Judy (Dale Gasser) Fossen, Jody (Nancy) Hoel, Jay (Kay) Hoel; grandchildren, Brandon (Shaunna) Hoel, Jens (Jessica) Fossen, Sever (Leslie Rivers) Fossen, Bergen (Ryan Luchsinger) Fossen, Hartman (Alexandra Kuehlmann) Hoel, Victor Hoel, Gus Hoel; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Charlene Fabian.

There will be no memorial service, in accordance with Tura's wishes. To honor her love for animals, memorials may be made in Tura Hoel Graber's name to the Dane County Humane Society, 5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI 53718 or at giveshelter.org. Please share your memories of Tura by posting Tributes.