Doris A. Gresl

Doris Anne Gresl (Dory), passed away peacefully on December 27, 2025. Dory grew up in Appleton, WI, and was the middle child of five. Her parents, Alfred and Emily Gresl taught their children (and their grandchildren) that family comes before everything… unless you're playing sheepshead, of course!

Dory was the first in her family to graduate from college, graduating from UW Madison before heading to New York to experience life in the Big Apple. After sometime in New York, where she got a job with the Social Security Administration, she transferred to the San Francisco office and spent the majority of her life, living just north of San Francisco from 1969-2023. She continued to work for Social Security as a Systems Analyst and eventually as a manager. She was blessed to love her job, and love the people she worked with. Her co-workers became a family away from family, later considered aunts and uncles to her children. They spent countless holidays together and enjoyed friendships filled with travel, theatre, hikes, laughs and love.

Dory had a strong thirst for travel and adventure. She was always proud to share that she had dipped her toes in all five oceans! She was fluent in French and after retirement she spent 10 months traveling through countless countries in Europe with a backpack and various friends and family meeting her along the way. In addition to numerous trips to Europe, she also traveled to Japan and a few countries in Africa.

Not only did Dory travel the world, she also traveled to all 50 states, often driving to new states with family or friends, never going the same way twice, and NEVER missing a chance to get off the freeway and take a side road!

Her adventures have been documented in over 30 hand written journals, certainly to be cherished and enjoyed by her friends and family for years to come.

Retirement not only gave her time to travel, but it also gave her time with her six grandchildren, Wally (19), Ellie (18), Rylie (16), Abby (16), Kaiya (15) and Bri (15). She took her grandchildren on adventures all over the Bay Area, as well as road trips to Southern California, Washington, Wisconsin and countless adventures throughout all corners of Oregon. She was a warm, safe and perfectly mischievous companion that her grandchildren will forever cherish.

While she wasn't sharing the joys of life with her grandkids, she would often escape the Bay Area and head to Eugene, Oregon, where her younger brother Wally and his wife Jackie would welcome her with open arms. Her love for their majestic property and her connection with them were highlights of her life.

Another highlight of her life was her lifelong friendship with Jo Rohm. Besties since 2nd grade, their friendship spanned decades and included trips and memories that became family lore. Even in the last few years, when Jo walked in the room, Dory lit up with love as their relationship was far beyond something Alzheimer's could touch.

While her battle with Alzheimer's impacted her presence the last few years - her sense of humor never wavered. Never one to miss the chance for a one liner or a joke - she continued to make those around her chuckle with her intelligent wit and quick sense of humor. It was her humor and kindness that won the hearts of the amazing staff at Alten Haus, in Neenah, where she spent the last two years of her life. Not only was she blessed to be cared for by such an amazing staff, she was also blessed to be in the room next to her oldest sister, Shirley. The two of them spent their days doing puzzles, sitting on the porch, and enjoying each others company, as they had so fondly done for all of Dory's life.

Sisterhood was a lifeline in Dory's life and her younger sister was a big part of the sisterhood quilt Dory kept so dear. During the last couple of years, Betty, and her husband Jim, would visit Dory regularly. They went on numerous adventures over the last 50 years, spanning the states between Wisconsin and California with every route possible as they frequently visited each other and stayed closely connected throughout her life. While Dory's children lived in California, Betty often jumped into the role of caretaker when Dory's health was declining during the last two yers of her life.

Dory's two children, Mariah and Shawn, their spouses, Jeff and Tanya, her six grandchildren, and her entire family and community of friends will miss her dearly.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 pm on March 28, 2026 in California (place is TBD) and on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at 2002 N Lynndale Dr, Appleton, WI