Gail Muhlhausen

Gail Janet Muhlhausen, 88, of Red Wing, died Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Red Wing. She was born, September 6, 1936, in Montevideo, Minn. to John E. and Margaret (Lau) Andersen. When she was three-years-old she moved to Ellsworth where she was raised by her aunt Florence and uncle Ed Palmer on the family farm. She attended school in Ellsworth and was part of the class of 1954.

On July 30, 1953, she married Melvin Muhlhausen in Ellsworth, Wis. The couple raised three daughters.

Gail's heart was always in her home. She loved being a mother and grandmother. She enjoyed baking as many cookies as she could give away. Gail was a lifelong birdwatcher. She enjoyed reading a good book and enjoyed watching old movies. She also enjoyed music. Gail was a talented musician. She played the piano and sang with the Pierce County Ecumenical Choir and the Silver Tones. She and her husband, Melvin, enjoyed traveling. Twice, they drove the Alaskan Highway together. They made many trips to Kansas and attended various steam engine shows where they showed off Melvin's self-built, half-scale Case Steam Engine.

Gail had a deep and abiding faith. She was a long-time member of Bethel Covenant Church in Ellsworth. She was also a member of the Sons of Norway.

She will be missed by many, including her daughters; Sandra (George Stewart, Jr.) Muhlhausen of South Saint Paul, Minn. and Nancy (Michael) Trudell of Ellsworth, Wis.; grandchildren, Jason Bystrom and Hailey Phoenix, both of Red Wing, Sarah (John) Cook of Mondovi, Wis., Samuel (Debbie) Hemphill and Izaac (Courtney Giebler) Hemphill both of Red Wing; two great-grandchildren, Johnathan and Cassidy Cook (and one more on the way;) brothers-in-law, Marvin (Barbara) and Everett (Barbara) Muhlhausen.

She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 62 years, Melvin; daughter, Cheryl Hemphill; brothers, John R. (Josephine) and Gerald (Janice) Andersen, father, John E. Andersen; mother, Margaret Chapdelaine; step-father, Henry Chapdelaine; nephews, Brian and Kevin Andersen; niece, Jeanette Andersen; son-in-law, Dean Bystrom; and her in-laws, Carl and Violet Nelson, Edwin and Merle Sjostrom, and Emil and Patricia Muhlhausen.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m., Friday, April 25, 2025 at Bethel Covenant Church in Ellsworth with Rev. Joel Osterlund officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church. Burial at Burnside Cemetery in Red Wing.  Arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Ellsworth Chapel.  Online condolences maybe left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com