Dorothy M. Degenhardt
Dorothy M. Degenhardt, 86, of Prairie du Chien, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, at home surrounded by her family.
She was born in Prairie du Chien on Sept. 21, 1935, the daughter of Albert “Doc” and Mary (Valley) Crawford. Dorothy married Edward “Ralph” Degenhardt on Jan. 21, 1956, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Prairie du Chien and, together, they raised their family in Prairie du Chien. She worked as a nurse at the General Hospital in Prairie du Chien, as well as Ben Franklin and the 3M Company before going to work at Miniature Precision Components until retirement. She loved playing bingo, sometimes playing five days a week with her husband Ralph. She also enjoyed playing cards with her friends on Thursday nights and loved to read a good book. Dorothy loved her family and believed that when you love someone, hug them. Her husband Ralph preceded her in death on July 29, 2006.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Debra Degenhardt-Eades and her husband Kelly Eades, whom she loved like the son she never had; her siblings, Norma (Craig) Anderson, Virginia Strickland, and Patricia Bunts; her grandchildren, Katie (Todd) Rufenacht and Michael Wallace; her great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Olivia Fox and Jack and Ella Wallace; her step-grandchildren, Tyler and Nicole Rufenacht and Ryan and Tajah Eades; and her special friend, Bud Rickles.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Rosemary Streeter.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Gabriel’s Church of the Holy Family Parish, Msgr. Charles Stoetzel officiating with burial in the Calvary Cemetery, both in Prairie du Chien. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of services. The Garrity Funeral Home, of Prairie du Chien, is assisting the family.
