Dorothy Emma Ella Wilke, 90, of Beechwood, passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2011, at her home.
She was born on December 22, 1920, in West Bend, the seventh child of Albert and Emma (Voight) Luebke. Two weeks later, her mother died from complications of Dorothy’s birth. Another week later, Dorothy was adopted by Oscar and Clara (Klaus) Krahn. She attended Longfellow School in the town of Scott and three years of high school in Random Lake. Dorothy was confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, later known as St. John’s United Church of Christ, in Beechwood on September 13, 1933. She was affiliated with this church all of her life.
On May 31, 1941, she was united in marriage to Eugene Degnitz. Together they had two children, Norbert Eugene and Janet May. Eugene passed away on April 3, 1968. On April 18, 1970, she married Lester Wilke. Lester passed away on December 5, 1989.
Dorothy lived in the town of Scott until moving to Plymouth in 1972 and from Plymouth to West Bend in 1992. She was a member of New Horizon United Church of Christ in the town of Farmington.
Dorothy will fondly be remembered for the enjoyment she received from quilting, attending her grandchildren’s concerts and musicals, playing all kinds of card games, bowling, spending time with family and friends and attending church services and functions. She will be deeply missed by her family and by all who knew her.
Those Dorothy leaves behind to cherish her memory include her daughter-in-law, Muriel Degnitz of Adell; five grandchildren, Dion (Patti) Degnitz, Delene Wallace, Dana (Jeff) Dahm, Cindy (Russ) Horning and Tim (Amy) Luft; ten great-grandchildren, Derek (Jamie) Degnitz, Dustin Degnitz, Collin and Colton Wallace, Samantha, Zachary and Lukas Dahm, Justin and Peter Luft and Dylan Horning; a great-great-grandson, Brody Degnitz, a sister-in-law, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husbands, her birth parents, her adopted parents and both of her children, Dorothy was preceded in death by a great-grandson, three brothers, Elmer, Albert and Walter Luebke and three sisters, Alice Anderson, Edna Spella and Erma Miller.
Funeral services for Dorothy were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2011, at New Horizon United Church of Christ, 9663 Highway 144 in the town of Farmington. Rev. David Schlieter officiated and burial followed in St. Paul U.C.C. Cemetery in Silver Creek.
Relatives and friends called at the church on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services.
The Miller Funeral Home in Kewaskum was entrusted with Dorothy’s arrangements.
Special thanks to the staff at Cedar Community and Beechwood Rest Home for the care provided to Dorothy in the last months.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dorothy Emma Ella Wilke, please visit our flower store.
She was born on December 22, 1920, in West Bend, the seventh child of Albert and Emma (Voight) Luebke. Two weeks later, her mother died from complications of Dorothy’s birth. Another week later, Dorothy was adopted by Oscar and Clara (Klaus) Krahn. She attended Longfellow School in the town of Scott and three years of high school in Random Lake. Dorothy was confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, later known as St. John’s United Church of Christ, in Beechwood on September 13, 1933. She was affiliated with this church all of her life.
On May 31, 1941, she was united in marriage to Eugene Degnitz. Together they had two children, Norbert Eugene and Janet May. Eugene passed away on April 3, 1968. On April 18, 1970, she married Lester Wilke. Lester passed away on December 5, 1989.
Dorothy lived in the town of Scott until moving to Plymouth in 1972 and from Plymouth to West Bend in 1992. She was a member of New Horizon United Church of Christ in the town of Farmington.
Dorothy will fondly be remembered for the enjoyment she received from quilting, attending her grandchildren’s concerts and musicals, playing all kinds of card games, bowling, spending time with family and friends and attending church services and functions. She will be deeply missed by her family and by all who knew her.
Those Dorothy leaves behind to cherish her memory include her daughter-in-law, Muriel Degnitz of Adell; five grandchildren, Dion (Patti) Degnitz, Delene Wallace, Dana (Jeff) Dahm, Cindy (Russ) Horning and Tim (Amy) Luft; ten great-grandchildren, Derek (Jamie) Degnitz, Dustin Degnitz, Collin and Colton Wallace, Samantha, Zachary and Lukas Dahm, Justin and Peter Luft and Dylan Horning; a great-great-grandson, Brody Degnitz, a sister-in-law, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husbands, her birth parents, her adopted parents and both of her children, Dorothy was preceded in death by a great-grandson, three brothers, Elmer, Albert and Walter Luebke and three sisters, Alice Anderson, Edna Spella and Erma Miller.
Funeral services for Dorothy were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 29, 2011, at New Horizon United Church of Christ, 9663 Highway 144 in the town of Farmington. Rev. David Schlieter officiated and burial followed in St. Paul U.C.C. Cemetery in Silver Creek.
Relatives and friends called at the church on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services.
The Miller Funeral Home in Kewaskum was entrusted with Dorothy’s arrangements.
Special thanks to the staff at Cedar Community and Beechwood Rest Home for the care provided to Dorothy in the last months.