Dorothy Oehrle

Dorothy Oehrle, 90 years young, died on February 1, 2014, in her home with her eight children and many of her grandchildren at her bedside. She was born on September 16, 1923, to August and Marie Gerke in the Town of Blue Mounds, Iowa County, Wis. She was a child of the Great Depression. Dorothy grew up on her family farm with her parents and seven siblings. As she grew older, she sometimes was sent out to work for other families serving as a nanny, housekeeper or baby sitter. Her strong work ethic came from her familys beliefs and she instilled that work ethic onto her own children and grandchildren.

She married Lloyd Smith in Galena, Ill. in 1945. They later were divorced and Dorothy moved back to Mt. Horeb with her six children. On September 1, 1956, she married George Oehrle who was also divorced and had two daughters of his own. Once married, Dorothy and George had two children of their own. Their marriage was truly a marriage of his, hers and theirs. George and Dorothy were married for 54 years before Georges death on January 20, 2011. Dorothy had many vocations during her lifetime including, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, hairdresser, bartender, farmer, factory worker, and seamstress. She was employed as a seamstress for The Garment Co. for 24 years, retiring in 1986. One of her favorite pastimes was sewing. She dedicated countless hours for Aprons for George, a project in which she made aprons, sold them, and then donated the money to the American Heart Association on behalf of her late husband, George. From 2011 until the time of her death, Dorothy sewed over 200 aprons. Another of her favorite memories revolved around the many vacations with good friends and cousins, Boots and Lyle. Dorothy was a fierce advocate for her children and her dying wish was that we remain as one family and look after each other. We will be forever grateful for the lessons taught to us by her. In addition to her husband, George, she was also preceded in death by her parents, August and Marie Gerke; her daughter, Bonnie Jean; and step-daughter, Dorothy Mae. She is survived by her eight children, Roger (Sheryl) Smith, Larry (Jean) Smith, Dwaine (Barbara) Smith, Betty (Archie) Sherry, Ronald (Karen) Smith, Carol (David) Middleton, Joanne (Kenneth) Maurer, and George (Robin) Oehrle; and her twenty grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She is further survived by friends, Boots and Lyle Johnson; her sister, Marie (Burnett) Severson; sister-in-laws, Linda Gerke, Alma Brady; cousins, Nookie Johnson and Alice Johnson. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 5, at 1:30 p.m., at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. So., in La Crosse. Rev. Mark Jolivette will officiate. Burial will follow in Neshonoc Cemetery, West Salem. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., and again on Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of services. A reception will follow the burial at the Moose Lodge in La Crosse. Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association.

The family wishes to recognize Gundersen Hospice for their guidance and allowing Dorothy to experience her last wish to die at home and in her bed.