Sally Jean Couser, 54

OBITUARIES

St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN) - Sunday, May 25, 2008

Age 54 of Highland Park, St. Paul. Died May 22, 2008 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN following complications associated with cancer surgery. Sally was born in Grand Rapids, MI and graduated from Edina High School, Edina, MN in 1972. She received a BS in nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1976. She later received a Masters degree from the University of Minnesota in public health in 1981 completing training as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She practiced at Children's Hospital in St. Paul and later at the Midwest Children's Resource Center in St. Paul, a diagnostic and treatment facility for victims of child abuse. Sally worked with the Junior League of St. Paul in establishing programs to further the understanding of Shaken Baby Syndrome, including the production of a nationally recognized educational video. Sally was on the faculty of St. Catherine's College in the training of pediatric nurse practitioners. She was involved in community service as a guardian ad litem and was a member of the Highland Park District Council Board, where she served on numerous committees, including the Mississippi River Legislative Advisory Committee. Sally was an experienced and successful grant writer with her proudest accomplishment being instrumental with her colleagues in attaining funding for the development of a park at the site of the old bridge abutment from the bridge across the Mississippi River to Fort Snelling. Throughout Sally's life and career, she lived with compassion and empathy for others, a commitment to her community, and unrelenting loyalty, generosity, and love to her family and friends. Later, as she dealt with the realities of living with cancer, she lived with personal courage and a strong will that inspired those who loved her dearly. Sally is survived by her husband Bob, of St. Paul, son Chad, of Annapolis, MD, mother Louise Kundmueller, of Atlanta, GA, brothers Jeff Kundmueller, of Houston, TX and Ken Kundmueller, of Dallas, TX, sisters Marilou Kundmueller, of Helper, UT, Patty Adcox, of Atlanta, GA, Judy Doyle, of Wauwatosa, WI, Kathy Kundmueller, of Atlanta, GA, granddaughter Emma Margaret Couser, of Annapolis, MD, and 14 nieces and nephews. A visitation service will be held between 5-7:00PM on Monday, May 26 at Bradshaw Funeral, 678 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul, MN, and a memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 27 at 10:30AM at GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH, 700 Snelling Ave. So., St. Paul, MN. The family requests memorials be donated to the family that will be directed toward specific cancer programs at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN.