Idella Bresnahan
Idella J. Bresnahan, 87, of Waukon died Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, May 8 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon.
Idella Julia Bresnahan was born October 12, 1929 in Hanover Township, the daughter of Maurice Francis and Estella (Dahlen) Gallagher. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church, attended rural country schools, and graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1948. Idella also attended Luther College in Decorah, where she received her Teaching Certificate and began teaching in rural country schools in the Waukon area.
June 7, 1949, she married Bernard Francis Bresnahan at St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church. They moved to Humboldt, where they lived for a short time before moving back to Hanover, where she went back to teaching. Idella and Bernard moved again, living in several towns in Iowa before moving back to the Waukon area for good. She did substitute teaching at St. Patrick's Catholic School, worked for the Soda Grill as a waitress, Waldron’s Bakery and Schultz Brothers’ Variety Store, all in Waukon.
Idella attended NICC in Calmar and graduated in 1994, at the age of 63, with an Associate’s Degree in Human Services. She then went to work at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, where she worked until she retired. After retiring from Good Sam she did carpentry work with Bernard, kept busy going for rides, visiting people, gardening and baking jelly and depression cookies for everyone.
Idella was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. She was happiest when she was spending time with "her Bernard," whom she loved very dearly, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her family, extended family and friends were her world. She loved to sing, tell ghost stories and to be outside. She continued teaching anyone around her how to care for and appreciate all that God gave us by her words and actions. She had a special saying for every occasion. Idella had a strong faith and was always willing to help others at any time.
Survivors include her two daughters: Kathy (Jack) Furtney of Nelson, WI and Karen (Terry) Mulholland of Waukon; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren: Jessica (Ryan) Wiltgen and children Alyssa, Austin and Michael, Eric Furtney, Malinda Mulholland and children Jade Timmerman and Trystan Riley, Heather Rissman and children Bailey, Payton and Cole, and David (Trish) Mulholland and children Brayden, Sierra and Rylan; three brothers: Robert (Connie) Gallagher of Waukon, Joe (Inez) Gallagher of Dorchester and Donald (Charlene) Gallagher of Bossier City, LA; as well as many nieces, nephews and the entire Gallagher family.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bernard, who died in 2015; a son, Bernard Francis “Biff” Bresnahan, Jr.; a grandson, Jason Ray Bresnahan; two sisters, Dorothy Deeny and Karen Sweet; and three brothers: Vernon, Maurice and Thomas Gallagher.
Casketbearers were Danny Gallagher, David and Brayden Mulholland, Eric Furtney, Trystan Riley and Ryan, Austin and Michael Wiltgen. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
