Lynn Trua Waller

Lynn Trua Waller (nee Udell), age 77, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, passed away on December 23rd after a brave battle with cancer. 

Lynn was a musician and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Northwestern University, after which she worked as a music teacher for piano and clarinet students. She could lose herself deeply in music, listening with eyes closed to the perfection of her beloved Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She loved to be immersed in sound.

Lynn pivoted in her life several times. She was a teacher for many years in the Templeton Middle School gifted and talented program. While still working at Templeton, she earned her Paralegal Certificate from Carthage College by going to night school. She worked at GE Medical as part of their legal team. Upon leaving GE she formed her own business with Polly Ferrara and enjoyed being her own boss.

In her early retirement years she worked at pet stores in various roles. The jobs were perfect for someone with a deep love of animals.  

Lynn and former spouse, Pedar Waller, had two children together whom they adored. Lynn was very close to her children, Colby and Jordy, throughout her life and was their biggest champion. She even tattooed her forearm with their names surrounding a wolf paw, a symbol of her fierce motherly instincts.  

Lynn was a recovering alcoholic and had earned her five-year sobriety chip just three days before her passing. Her family was immensely proud of her. Her struggle was real and it took incredible willpower to overcome.

Lynn was preceded in death by her partner, Jill Rasmussen, whom she loved dearly, and her parents, N. Lee and M. Betty Udell (nee Hallberg). She is survived by her children, Colby Waller (Laura Hutchins) and Jordy Lynn Waller (Marcella Andrews); her grandchildren, Atticus Jon Andrews-Waller and Rosemary Lynn Andrews-Waller; as well as her sisters, Maralee Glatz (George Glatz), who is her identical twin, and Barbara Berven (Norm Berven), who was her guardian angel in her last hours. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wisconsin Humane Society in her name.