April 28, 1938 – Feb. 23, 2010


Sylvia Nelson Moldenhauer of Waukesha passed away Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, at AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc at the age of 71. She was the proud adopted daughter of Mary H. and Charles E. Nelson Jr., born on April 28, 1938.

As a young girl, Sylvia won a contest and earned the honor of naming the Girl Scout council; she chose the Great Blue Heron Girl Scout Council. She was a 1956 graduate of Waukesha High School and attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Mo., and Carroll University. Sylvia later married the love of her life, William J. Moldenhauer. He preceded her in death Nov. 27, 1992.

She faithfully gave of her time and talent to the Waukesha community, serving on the board of directors of the YWCA for 15 years and the Mental Health Association. She was also a 25-year member of the Ideal Club, following in her mother’s and grandmother’s footsteps. She had a love for travel, reading, gardening, decorating and a zest for life that will not be forgotten by those close to her. Her most cherished times were those spent with her family and friends and at her lake homes.

She will be sadly missed by her three children, Mary M. Moldenhauer of New Berlin, Mark A. Moldenhauer of Dousman, Elizabeth M. (Scott) Swanson of Madison; and her very special grandson, Nathaniel William Lee Moldenhauer. She is further survived by her sister-in-law, Patricia M. Scanlon of Menomonee Falls; her niece, Katie (Greg) Heimerl of Rochester, Minn.; nephew, John (Jennifer) Scanlon of Sturgeon Bay; great-nieces and great-nephews, Joey, Lizzie, Charlie and Erin; and a cousin, Phyllis Nacey of Ohio.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Avita K. and William R. Moldenhauer; her brotherin-law, Dr. John A. Scanlon; her brother, Spencer; and her beloved grandmother, Nana.

Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until the 11:30 a.m. memorial service Thursday, March 4, at Delafield Presbyterian Church, 1851 N. Genesee St., Delafield. Please wear a touch of red. A private family interment will be held at Prairie Home Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Sylvia Nelson Moldenhauer Fund for Mental Health at Waukesha County Community Foundation, 2727 N. Grandview Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188.

A heartfelt thanks to the staff at AngelsGrace Hospice, Dr. Christopher B. Davies, Dr. Gilberto Rodrigues and the staff at Oncology Alliance, the 2 North staff at Waukesha Memorial Hospital, lifelong friends Carol and Jack Mitchell and caregiver Karen Meade.

For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 547-4035 or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com to leave an online tribute.