Iris Kay Bulson

Iris Kay Bulson, nee Douglas, died unexpectedly on May 20, 2024 at the Woodlands Senior Living in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin at 84 years old. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Doug, Marinell Newman, Steve and Cindy and her daughter and son-in-law Pam and Glen Wellso. Grandchildren Brian (Rebecca), Greg (Jess) and step-great grandchildren Lily Derleth (fiancé Matthew Doro) and Chloe Bulson, her sister Sharon Douglas, nieces and nephews and special friends Connie Kenney and JoAnn Adsen, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Gilbert Bulson Jr., in 2014, her parents, her in-laws, her sister and brother-in-law Joan and Jim Mohr, and her niece Lisa Thomas.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 31 at Trinity Methodist Church in 300 N. Church St. Lomira, WI. Visitation will be 9:30 – 11:00, service at 11:00, with lunch following in the Fellowship Hall. The Village Flower Shoppe in Kekoskee is assisting the family.

Iris was an accomplished piano player, piano teacher, artist, writer and lifelong learner. She missed out on being a hippie in the 60’s but instead she raised her three children, took care of the house and Gil until his passing. Mom and Dad bickered often but laughed much and always had a deep love for each other. Mom attended Alverno College for classes related to music. She built up her piano teaching studio. She was the first in the United States to receive a Certified Teacher of Music designation through the Music Teachers National Association. She took many piano lessons throughout her life, even preparing and performing 3 full length solo concerts as an adult.

Mom lived a varied and full life, she was always embarking on new things: helping a Korean family new to Wisconsin, Braille transcription, having a French student for a summer, taking 2 trips to France, bike riding and walking, flower and vegetable gardening, orchid growing, poetry and writing classes, publishing her own book, art classes and acrylic paint pouring, organ lessons and playing for church services, interviewing and transcribing Veteran’s stories for the Library of Congress, member of the Methodist Church, outings with her grandchildren, special days out with her daughter. Mom and Dad had one very special dog Taffy. Mom always loved a good dog petting and snuggle.

Mom was a mover! Our family joke was that our parents moved every 9 years. Mom has lived in Milwaukee, her beloved Bay View, St. Francis, Cudahy, Hartland, Oconomowoc, Waukesha and Fond du Lac, at the end, near her daughter. Her adjustment to the Woodlands was challenging in the first year. The facility there and staff are amazing and loved on Iris well.

Mom mourned the loss of her beloved Gilly, to the very end. She hated aging and especially dementia, which stole her short-term memory and stole her ability to play piano. She went out of this world exactly how she wanted to, without any long illness, and before dementia progressed any further. In the past 2 years, Iris and Pam had many outings to doctor’s appointments, thrift shops and Hobby Lobby, ice cream, custard and big hamburgers, lots of cursing at our aging bodies, lots of laughter and lots of love shared between the two of them.

Mom had about 2 ounces of Scottish blood in her lineage but she ran with that. She loved being part of the Douglas Clan and spent many hours researching her family history. She was thrilled that her ancestors had roots in Waukesha and in the founding of Carroll University. She also loved her Bay View roots; she considered Bay View her “home”. Mom and Dad hung out with the Italians of the area and these lifelong friends were affectionately known as The Mafia in our house.