Our loving mother, Doris Louise (Wendt) Vollmer, age 90, entered eternal life on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at Aster Retirement Community in Clintonville.
She was born on December 6, 1930, in the log home of her parents, William Daniel Wendt and Frieda (Helmig) Wendt, in the Town of Norwood, in Langlade County, WI. She attended school through the 8th grade. On May 6, 1953, she married Martin A. Vollmer at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Antigo, WI. Being a homemaker and taking care of and loving her family was her mission in life. She took care of many children over the years, including her siblings, grandchildren, and neighborhood kids. Doris enjoyed growing flowers and gardening, canning many things from her garden. She loved to read and remembered cherishing books from little on. As an adult, she would sometimes read one book a day. Her books would take her on adventures she was unable to do. She always had an interest in learning new things. As a little girl, after her siblings had gone to school, she once walked to the one-room neighborhood schoolhouse by herself because she wanted to go to school so bad. Once she got there, she hid underneath the school stairs. Doris was a wonderful cook and baker, making her children’s birthday cakes every year. No one ever left her home hungry, and usually with food in hand. Some of the family’s favorites included her original Valentine sugar oatmeal cookies, Christmas cut-out cookies, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, caramel pecan rolls, cinnamon rolls, sour cream coffee cake, and bread pudding. She was a great seamstress, making many of her children’s clothes out of necessity. Her flannel nightgowns were the best. She enjoyed making crafts, fabric yoyos, and quilts. She leaves behind many beautiful handmade creations for her family to treasure. Listening to Daniel O’Donnell CD’s and attending his concerts were one of her greatest joys in life.
Doris is survived by her children: Arlyn Vollmer, Milyn Vollmer, Sharon (Patrick) Pelkey, Susan Gee, Donna (Gerald) Johnson, Elaine (Kenny) Gast; 22 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren; son-in-law, James Rusch; sisters, Eleanor Dahlke and Jane Dreiske; brother, Marvin Wendt; sisters-in-law, Lois Wendt, Gerry Wendt, and Sandy Vollmer; brother-in-law, Lyle Sanderfoot; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin; son, Valentine Vollmer; daughter, Carol Lynn Rusch; daughter-in-law, Donna Mae Vollmer; sons-in-law, Douglas Gee and Peter Smith; siblings, Violet Viitanen, Wilburn Wendt, Eugene Wendt, Donald Wendt; brother-in-law, Arthur Dahlke; sister-in-law, Judy Wendt; and other in-laws, Irvin and Louella Steinke, Vernon and LaVera Tullberg, Marlin and Violet Conradt, Bonnie Sanderfoot, James Vollmer, and LeeIla Zitske.
Our family would like to thank the staff of Aster Retirement Community especially Brooklyn and Sheila; and the staff and volunteers with ThedaCare Hospice especially Kristy “that blonde nurse”, Jolene, and Doris for their loving care of our mother.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to ThedaCare Friends of Hospice or St. Martin Lutheran Church, Clintonville. Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Clintonville, is assisting the family. Due to COVID-19, a private funeral service will be held for immediate family members only.