Loraine June Gorham

91, of Wauwatosa left this world on June 9, 2013. She was greeted with open arms at her new home by her parents John and Ida Unruh, sister-in-law Edna Unruh and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.

Lori was born on December 10, 1921 at her childhood home in Dundee, IL to John and Ida Unruh. She attended Immanuel Lutheran elementary grade school and graduated from Dundee High School in 1940. At four years old Lori was telling everyone she was going to be a nurse and that she was. Lori received her RN degree from Sherman Hospital in 1943 and immediately joined the United States Navy Nurse Corps and served as an Ensign in San Francisco, CA during WW II.

In 1944 she married Arthur W. Gorham and they lived in Chicago before moving to her home town of Dundee to raise a family. After WWII she returned to work as a RN at Sherman Hospital. In 1961 the family moved to Milwaukee. In Milwaukee she worked at Deaconess Hospital, Elmbrook Hospital and St. Michael's Hospital before retiring in 1986. She served on the Executive Board and as President of the Nurses Association of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (NAACOG) from 1979-1984. After retirement she continued to work one day a week for five years and spent much of her free time volunteering for the Salvation Army Auxiliary.

For the past 14 years she lived at Luther Manor in Wauwatosa. In addition to her sewing talents she spent her time volunteering at the Home, and played bridge and dominoes with her new and old friends. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Lori was an accomplished seamstress – a life skill taught to her by her mother. She loved making outfits for herself, her daughters and her granddaughters. No sewing task was too small for her. In addition to the clothes she made draperies, curtains, slip covers and anything else than needed to be made or mended. She also mastered hand-quilting completing many beautiful quilts that will continue her memory.

She was proud of the quality of life and love bestowed upon her by her parents as a child which built the principles of life she shared with her family. She felt blessed that her father was always employed during the Depression years.

Lori is survived by her big brother, John Unruh of Dundee, IL ; her children: Mary Dropp (Gene) of Milwaukee, William Gorham (Marilyn)of Hudson, WI and Sarah Gorham (Stoney) of Atlanta, GA, two granddaughters: Amy Willadsen (Josh) and Aubrey Hall (Michael) and one great grandchild, Anastasia Willadsen.

Memorial services for Lori will be held at the Luther Manor Chapel, 4545 North 92nd Street, on Thursday, June 13, 12:00 PM. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service. Memorials should be directed to Luther Manor or the Salvation Army.