Doane "Dewey" Kositzke

Doane “Dewey” Kositzke, age 84 of Appleton passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2018. She was born in the town of Cicero on June 2, 1933, daughter of the late Edgar and Lucille (Gerndt) Helms. Dewey attended Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, as well as Concordia College in Minneapolis. As a young woman, she taught at St. Paul Lutheran School in Appleton, where she met her future husband, Robert H. Kositzke. After they were married on August 8, 1953, she became a stay-at-home mom, sold Beeline Fashion Clothing, and raised five children. Later in life, she enjoyed working with the special needs children at Jefferson School in Appleton as well as helping with the after-school daycare at St. Paul. Dewey was a member of St. Paul’s Ladies Aide for fifty-six years.

She was an avid sports fan, loved the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Antonio Spurs. She enjoyed reading, coloring books, and jigsaw puzzles.

Survivors include her children: Robert H. Kositzke II of Kimberly; Cindy Kositzke of Neenah; Randy (Deb) Kositzke of Greenville; Ryan (Denise) Kositzke of Hanover, Minnesota; and a daughter-in-law: Lisa (Tom) Pawlowski of Appleton. Her grandchildren are Alan (Kristen) Kositzke, Nick (Katie) Kositzke, Eric Kositzke, Greg Kositzke, Jamie (Drew) Rose, Adam Kositzke, Hannah Kositzke, Chris Kositzke, Hayley Kositzke, and Lana Kositzke; there are also ten great-grandchildren: Vadin, Christian, Kaeden, Ethan, Owen, Hunter, Grayson, Adelyn, Emberlynn, and Evelyn.

Other survivors include two sisters: Karen (Lanny) Prahl and Faith (Larry) Liebzeit; two brothers: Mark Helms and Sheldon (Jeanne) Helms. Her in-laws include Judy Voecks, Sharon Mudgett, and Erika Kositzke.

Dewey was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob in 1993, Bob’s parents: Harry and Mildred Kositzke, son Rick in 2006, a grandson Charlie in 2015, a granddaughter Chanel in 1993, a great-granddaughter Grace in 2004; brothers and sister: Alden (Lois) Helms, Keith Helms and Betty Helms; and brothers-in-law: Ron Kositzke and Gary Voecks.

The Christian Funeral Service for Doane will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 6, 2018, at ST. PAUL EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, 302 N. Morrison Street in Appleton, with Rev. Peter Walther officiating. Burial will take place at Highland Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Friday morning from 9:00 AM until the hour of the service. For more information or to share a memory of Dewey, please visit www.wichmannfargo.com.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Tammy and the staff from AseraCare Hospice as well as to Nicole and her staff at the Renaissance of Appleton. Words cannot express how much we appreciate everything you did for our mother.

A memorial fund will be established in Dewey’s honor.