Doris Elaine Harrison, 77, of Wilton died Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, La Crosse.
She was born Jan. 19, 1933, to Emil and Freda (Saxby) Zimmerman on the family farm, Dorset Ridge. She was baptized Feb. 19, 1933, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dorset Ridge. She was confirmed April 14, 1946, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kendall. Doris attended Dorset Ridge Country School and was a member of the Kendall High School graduating class of 1950.
She was united in marriage to Robert Harrison on Aug. 18, 1951, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, by Pastor Witte. She worked for several years at Tillman’s Produce, Wilton, and Decomat, Sparta. Doris was an avid reader and worked as a librarian at the Wilton Public Library for many years. She was a faithful member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, serving on the Ladies Aid, for which she was a past president.
She enjoyed spending time in the garden, growing a variety of vegetables and flowers. She was an excellent cook, and her friends and family always enjoyed her delicious graham cracker pies. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed cheering for the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, and her most favorite teams — her grandchildren’s teams. Doris loved spending time with her family, babysitting for her grandchildren, and attending sporting events and music events.
Doris and Bob celebrated 59 years of marriage last August. During those 59 years, they were most often found together, enjoying watching their grandchildren, visiting friends or working side by side. Recently, they worked together while helping build St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kendall.
She is survived by her husband, Bob of Wilton; two daughters, Vickie (James) Boeder of Reeseville, Wis., and Barbara (Ronald) Brieske of Tomah; six grandchildren, Ryan (Katherine) Boeder of Milwaukee, Jeff (Mandy) Brieske of Tomah, Erick Boeder of Whitehall, Penn., Jenny (Sean) Kowalski of Wausau, Joel (Heather) Brieske of Wilton and Jamie (Charles) Thibedeaux of Menomonee, Wis.; seven great-grandchildren, Carson, Addison, Jackson and Haden Brieske, Cole and Kaya Kowalski, and Jaylyn Thibedeaux; one expected great-grandchild; two sisters, Marcella (Allan) Anderson of St. Louis and Phyllis (Vilas) Britzman of Camp Douglas; two sisters-in-law, Maxine Curler of Mequon, Wis., and Peg Zarnke of Sparta; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by an infant sister, Gertrude, and a sister, Grace.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 26, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kendall. Pastor Steven Neuman will officiate. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Wilton. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4–8 p.m. Thursday at the Smith-Nelson Funeral Home, 702 Center St., Wilton, and from 10–11 a.m. Friday at the church.
