Dorothy Shell

1910 - 2012

Dorothy M. Shell, 101, Green Bay, died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Dorothy was born June 16, 1910, in Madison, Wis. She was the youngest daughter of Nels and Mary Olesen. She graduated from Madison East High School and went on to major in Journalism and English at the University of Wisconsin. Thereafter she managed apparel shops in Madison and Sheboygan. Dorothy married Kenneth Shell of Phillips, Wis., on June 27, 1934, in Madison. They lived in Sheboygan and Milwaukee before coming to Green Bay in 1954, when Mr. Shell became Director of the Green Bay Health Department Laboratory. On May 10, 1983, Ken preceded her in death.

She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay since 1954, having been a Sunday School Teacher, a Deacon, past President of the Presbytery of Wisconsin Women's Association, Chairman of Hannah-Ruth Circle and a Prayer Chain Leader of Presbytery of Wisconsin. She also served on Memorial and Education Committees and was an Honorary Member of the Board of Ecumenical Missions and Relations.

She is survived by a loving, caring son, Richard Evan Shell and his wife, Lili (Halloran) Shell; a grandson, Jonathan (Tracy) Larscheid; a granddaughter, Lara Shaffer; two great-granddaughters, Alissa Larscheid, Britney Larscheid; nieces and nephews in Madison and Orfordville, Wis., Hemet, Calif., Portland, Ore., and Maywood, Ill.; many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Kenneth; three sisters, Eleanor Dansin, Madison, Wis.; Della Reeter, Hemet, Calif.; Myrtle Babcock, Osakis, Minn.; two brothers, Edward Olesen, Stoughton, Wis.; Robert Olesen, Ontario, Calif.

Friends may call at First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Ashland, from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church with the Rev. Randy Argall officiating. Burial will be in Fort Howard Memorial Park. Blaney Funeral Home is assisting the family. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

The family extends a special thank you to the nurses and staffs of Marla Vista and Unity Hospice for their care of Dorothy. They express their thanks also to Lorraine Nelson, Dorothy's neighbor for more than 50 years, for her friendship.