Brenda L. Kamuda, 58

Brenda L. Kamuda, of Appleton, died Monday, April 11, 2016 at Oakridge Gardens Nursing Home in Menasha under the care of her family and Affinity Hospice. She was 58 years old. She was born on October 15, 1957 in Elton, a daughter of the late Edward and Vivian (Clay) Straley. She married Arlie Theilman in 1974. He preceded her in death on July 1, 1976. She married Michael Kamuda on August 15, 1993 in Antigo; the couple later divorced.

She was a graduate of White Lake High School with the class of 1975.

After high school, she began her work life at Rine Ridge Potato Farm. She later worked at True Value Hardware. She owned and operated Cloud 9 Limousine Service while she obtained her home day care operator certification for the State of Wisconsin in 1989. She impacted the lives of thousands of families as an owner/operator of many day care centers in the Fox River Valley.

Friends and family counted on Brenda’s willingness to lend a helping hand. She ended most of her conversations with: “anything I can do to help, let me know.” As a professed do-it-yourselfer, Brenda enjoyed craft and home refinishing projects. Her passion for shopping led to her well known collection of three of everything.

Survivors include a daughter, Tonya (special friend Jamie Stiles) Benbo, Appleton; a son, Michael (Christina) Kamuda, Little Chute; a step-daughter, Jennifer (Anthony) Aalbregtse, Oshkosh; 5 grandchildren, Tanner Grassman, Keegan and Kennedy Benbo, Jaedyn and Gaige Kamuda; two step-grandchildren, Brennan and Quinn Aalbregtse; two sisters, Bonnie (Dan) Keso, White Lake, Jean Straley, Milwaukee; five brothers, Raymond (Pat) Straley, Mesquite, Nevada, Bernard (Vonda) Straley, Bryant, Edward (Nancy) Straley, Bryant, Jerry Straley, Antigo, Maurice (Marlene) Straley, Elton; sister-in-law, Jeannie Straley, Bryant; brother-in-law, Dale Lewis, Elton; many special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, two sisters, Sheila Otto and Betty Lewis, a brother, Tom Straley, and a brother-in-law, Eugene Otto.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Four Corners Assembly of God, White Lake with Rev. Marvin Kindle officiating. Burial will take place in the Town of Evergreen Cemetery, Elton. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Fox Valley Brain Tumor Coallition (www.fvbtc.org).

The family would like to give a special thank you to the nursing staff at Oakridge Gardens, nurse Patti, and mom’s hospice nurse, Michelle Gunderson.