Gudrun Eidnes

Born in Lofthus, Norway – May 8, 1930

Died in Farmington Hills, MI – August 12, 2020

Gudrun was the fifth daughter and 8th of 9 children born to Anders and Guro Storegraven in Lofthus, Norway. She had an active happy childhood playing and learning next to the fjord in the beautiful fruit growing region of Hardanger. Her fifteenth birthday was celebrated with the whole world ‘when the peace broke out’.

Gudrun went off to the big city to train and work as a hospital nurse. While on a walking vacation in the mountains, she re-met a young man who had been studying and working in America for 5 years, also home on vacation. His name was Dag Eidnes and they married within weeks – and then were apart for 4 months as she waited for her visa. In January of 1955 Gudrun crossed the Atlantic and with her new husband in a borrowed car, drove over snowy roads to her new home in Michigan.

New married life, new language, new culture. Gudrun was made of love and quiet resilience, and made a wonderful home for Dag and their children – Kari, Ingrid and Johannes. First in Livonia, then in Northville, she cared for her home and family, welcomed friends to her table and had a special connection to each of her grandchildren – Anna, Toby, Lisa and Kari. She was a vigilant ‘night nurse’ to Dag during his cancer years, from 2008 until his death in 2019.

For 20 years Gudrun and Dag spent the summer in the lovely house where Gudrun had grown up. They welcomed and fed brothers and sisters, friends, children and grandchildren. Gudrun lived in America, but she loved Norway. Dag’s and her ashes will eventually be placed in the churchyard in Lofthus, within the magnificent landscape of mountains, water and glacier.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Angela Hospice or Community Opportunity Center (Cocliving.com), 14147 Farmington Rd, Livonia, MI 48154.