Eugenia "Kuku" Whelihan

Markesan - Kuku took her last car ride June 23, 2020.

Eugenia Ann Friday, "Kuku" to those that knew her, was born on Friday, January 7th, 1929, in Fond du Lac Wisconsin, to Floyd and Margaret Sweeney Friday. She was raised in Markesan, where she graduated high school, and went on to get a degree in Home Economics/Child Development from UW Madison. At the age of 5, her parents purchased a property on Sandstone on the south shore of Green Lake, WI. She spent the next 87 years enjoying the property with her many friends and relatives . She met Wayne D. Krueger of Green Lake and they married in 1952. They were married 14 years and had 4 children: Karin Vandervelde Jones (Thomas C. Jones, Jr.), Richard Friday Krueger, Maureen Krueger Bohleber (Daniel Bohleber) and Mark Douglas Krueger (Ellen Castro Krueger). In 1974 she remarried to James Whelihan and gained a step-son, William (Bill) James Whelihan.

Kuku was a storyteller and an amateur historian who had a flair for fun and the absurd. Her legacy is filled with her undying loyalty to friends and family. She was persistent, inquisitive, stubborn and independent. Kuku was at her best when surrounded by children. She used to tell her grandchildren that they "only get one Kuku" and for that she was right. She cheered the underdog and wanted anyone and everyone to use the lake property early and often. She believed ice cream was a food group and as a lifelong republican refused to vote for "that terrible man" when Trump was elected. Kuku was the ultimate extrovert and did not understand anyone who wasn't. When once asked what her favorite trip was she recalled a trip to Paris with her son, Rick, but said that otherwise, Green Lake was the perfect place to be. She lived fiercely and died peacefully — and was one lucky lady.

She is survived by her younger sister, Barbara Friday Stracka, her children and stepson listed above, her grandchildren, Drew B. Vandervelde, Margaret (Margo) Jones Goelz, Sherrie Lynn Krueger, Dustin Cyrus Krueger, Jason Douglas Krueger, Kevin Wasmuth Donahue, Margaret (Peggy) Eugenia Donahue. Her step-grandchildren James William and Virginia Grace Whelihan. Her great-grandchildren Peter Joseph (PJ) Vandervelde, Alexandra (Alex) Josephine Vandervelde, Henry Xavier Goelz, Lucie Friday Goelz, Finn Francis Goelz, Michael and Joey Brown, Cooper Friday Johnson. Nieces and a nephew and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Her teeth will be donated to the Green Lake Historical Society.

Memorial gifts may be donated to the Green Lake Association in her name: Eugenia F. Whelihan

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Stevens Point Journal from Jun. 25 to Jun. 27, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Eugenia Whelihan

Sponsored by Markesan Community Funeral Home - Markesan.

10 Entries

Craig Porter

August 17, 2021

It was nice to have known you. Rest In Peace.

Susan Hill

July 3, 2020

Kuku will live on forever in our loving and oft crazy memories of her.

Jan Buckley, text (920) 291-6005

June 30, 2020

I was introduced to her on Green Lake, and would keep bumping into her around Green Lake (she always remembered me), until I became homebound.
She was an exquisite human being. The world will miss her and am really sorry for YOUR loss. Please be safe and well.

David Rubin

June 27, 2020

So many wonderful memories of Jean at Green Lake Boundless energy; wrangling all those kids; slathering everyone with Skin-so-Soft; soaking those brats in beer; but most of all, looking after her extended family with loving care. I'm grateful to have been a kind of erstwhile 'son-in-law', so warmly adopted by the whole family. Rest in Peace.

Rhonda Bocek

June 27, 2020

I loved KuKu and we always ended her bedtime ritual with an "I love you" from each of us. She said her husbands were "delightful" and I assured her she also was. She loved her puffy corn, when she finally discovered it, so I hope there is a lot of it where she has gone. She will be greatly missed by myself, and by my dad, "Dicky" Dukelow.

Todd Hudzinski

June 26, 2020

Forward through stampedes
and tumultuous fray
skipped a welcoming spirit
inquiring and ne'er
a fuss
nor a pause
was to be made

Onward Kuku, it's just a bigger yard. I am grateful to have been graced by your essential spirit.

Ellen Kaul

June 26, 2020

Many interesting times with Jean, from Markesan on to this last few years...talked to her often so she could correct whatever I was doing wrong...LOL. RIP JEAN. Love, cousin Ellen Kaul

Joe and Lauren Norton

June 26, 2020

Day hi to mom and dad!

Molly Stegeman

June 26, 2020

Man guys whoever had a hand in writing this hit it right on the nail. I will forever remember Keith Schweder heading for the hills when Jean and Barbara were coming to visit Joan. In later years I was blessed to have a small relationship with her through Claudia Bonora. She would call and ask if I'd spoken to her because she wasn't able to get a hold of her, and then we'd talk for half an hour. She was a treasure.

Martha Janz

June 25, 2020

I always enjoyed visiting with Kuku! Rest in peace, dear lady.

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