Sara Hjerstedt
October 01, 1929 - February 21, 2026
Obituary
Sally (Sara Jean) Hjerstedt, age 96, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Sally was born to Lynville and Bernice Carpenter on October 31, 1929, in Madison, Dane County, WI. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bud (Emil Munroe), and brothers Russ and Al. She married Bud on May 17, 1952. She is survived by her sons: Monny (Jo), Mitch, Malcolm, and Marty (Cheri); eight grandchildren: Jenni (Paul) Kundinger, Erik (Krystyna) Hjerstedt, Molly (Rick) Miller, Kayla (Jacob) Backhaus, Matt (Sara) Hjerstedt, Brian (Lauren) Hjerstedt, Alex (Danielle) Hjerstedt, Emily (Damian) Pollock; and ten great-grandchildren.
When Sally was 6 months old, the family moved to Rumford ME and moved to Neenah when she was about 6 years old. She graduated from Neenah High School in 1947. Sally attended Carroll College, Waukesha WI, for 2 years, and graduated from Milwaukee Business Institute, where she and Bud met. When her father died in 1951, she moved back home to Neenah, and Bud followed soon after. Together they opened Munroe Studios in 1952, just before they married. Bud did the photography while Sally became the receptionist and Secretary-Treasurer of Munroe Studios. She retired shortly after Bud. Sally enjoyed spending summer weekends with her family at the cottage and winters motor-homing with friends. She belonged to First Presbyterian Church, Neenah and was active in church activities as an Elder, in Circle, Tuesday Club, and was also active in the Memorial Park Condominiums Board, Neenah Historical Society, and FMCA motorhome clubs. Her favorite activities were crossword puzzles, tennis, walking, handwork, genealogy, reading and travel.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on April 11, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church in their Chapel, 200 Church St., Neenah, with The Rev. Kim Johnson officiating. The visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 am until the hour of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Neenah First Presbyterian Church.