Dorothy A. DeLong

Dorothy Alice DeLong passed away on April 26, 2015 at home in Menasha. Dorothy was the third daughter born to the late Harry and Rose (Cyr) LaPointe on March 20, 1925 in Birchwood, Wisconsin. She graduated from Edgewood Jr. College in Madison, then attended UW Madison for one year. In the meantime, her father lost his only office help at the Birchwood Lumber and Veneer Mill. It was wartime and impossible to get help so Dorothy returned home to be his office bookkeeper.

Upon her return, she met Earl DeLong who, with his father, had made a trip to Birchwood. Earl was a Marine hero who had just returned from 18 months in a Navy hospital in California. They were married May 3, 1947, making their home in Menasha and Neenah to raise seven children, until retiring to Birchwood, Wisconsin.

Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother and friend to many, always putting everyone's needs before hers. She was a gracious host to all, opening her home with plenty of love and cookies to share. It made perfect sense that she and Earl bought a summer resort in Birchwood before Earl retired. Continuing her loving and hardworking ways for 20 years, many resort goers returned year after year and remained friends. In the early 90's they began spending winter months in Mercedes, Texas, along with a few of their Birchwood friends, and found such joy for 16 years.
Dorothy and Earl lost two children, Jane at 50 and Daniel at 61. After 61 years of marriage Earl passed away in 2008.

Following a stroke in 2010, Dorothy moved to the Gardens of Fountain Way in Menasha.

In retirement, Dorothy enjoyed trips out to the cabin in the woods (“Earlsville”), crosswords, Sudoku, fishing, walking, playing bridge, reading and teaching grandchildren cribbage, 31, and Smear. Her passion was the Brewers, Packers, and the Badgers. If a game was not broadcast on TV you could find her pacing with a radio and head phones, intently listening to each play.
She was a member of the Legion Post 379 Auxiliary in Birchwood, Birchwood Historical Society, and St. John's Catholic Church in Birchwood.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband, Earl; two sisters Mae Rose and Eileen (Floyd) Jensen; children, Daniel and Jane; and two grandchildren, Kimberly & Kyle Krempien.

She is survived by five children: Marcia (William) Laney of Birchwood, WI; Jacalyn (Dennis) Krempien of Oshkosh, WI; Julie (Steve) Coopman of Appleton, WI; Thomas (Michele) DeLong of Hudson, WI; Michael (Holly) DeLong of Appleton, WI, grandchildren: Megan (Sam Salter) Laney, Michael (Michele) Laney, Erin (Patrick) McDonough, Patrick Laney, Brian (Hollie) Laney, Amy DeLong, Lisa DeLong, Danielle (Andrew Adams) DeLong, Allen DeLong, David DeLong, Tim (Sherri) Krempien, Matt (Kristi) Krempien, Kerrie (Nick) Rageth, Eric (Jamie) Coopman, Alan (Fiona) Coopman, Kyle Coopman, Drew DeLong, Rylan DeLong, Zach DeLong, Annie (Adam) School and 28 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Dorothy will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 1, 2015 at WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME-TRI-COUNTY CHAPEL (1592 Oneida St., Menasha). Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service.

A memorial mass will also be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 16 at St. John the Evangelist in Birchwood (408 S. Main St., Birchwood, WI) with visitation from 9:00 AM until the time of mass.

The family wishes to thank everyone at the Gardens of Fountain Way for their kindness and friendship to Dorothy, as they were part of her family over the past 4 years. Also a big thank you to Heartland Hospice for their support and compassion.

In lieu of flowers a memorials may be directed to one of the following groups that were important to her: Birchwood Historical Society, Birchwood Senior Center, Educational Foundation of Birchwood, Make A Wish Foundation (Appleton), Fisher House Foundation (for wounded or ill Vets), Ho Chunk Nation Department of Family Services (Attn Foster Parent program).