Doris Ann Willgrubs

Doris Ann Willgrubs passed away on Friday Oct 31, 2025. She was 91 years old.
Born in Ettrick, Wisconsin, on July 23, 1934, to Selmer and Anna (Smickrud) Tranberg, she was the youngest of six children and their only daughter.
She attended grade school in Ettrick and graduated from Gale-Ettrick High School in 1952 where she played French horn in the marching band. After high school she worked as a nurse's aid in the maternity ward at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, WI.
Doris met Daniel Farnam in the fall of 1952 at a wedding reception in Galesville where he "swept her off her feet". He was drafted by the US Army and stationed in Panama for two years. During this time, Doris returned to Ettrick and worked a variety of jobs, including the host and waitress at Walters' family restaurant.
She married Daniel Farnam on May 28, 1955 at Living Hope Lutheran Church in Ettrick. The young couple briefly lived in Racine, WI, before returning to live in Galesville, WI. They had four children together: Steve, Jerry, a baby boy, and Roxann.
Danny unexpectedly died of a heart attack in April 1960. After his death, Doris and the children returned to her parents home in Ettrick.
Eventually, mutual friends and family would introduce Doris to Ken Willgrubs. They'd spend their first date dancing in Cataract, WI, and Ken introduced Doris to his family in Sparta, WI, - who, it turned out, knew Doris' brothers. Doris married Ken Willgrubs on Dec 15, 1962. Their son, Richard "Rick" Willgrubs was born in 1963. The family would move to Sparta, raising their children and playing an active role in the community for over twenty years.
Doris and Ken loved to travel. Criss-crossing the country to attend American Legion conventions, the two of them saw almost the entire United States. Years later, they'd expand their journeys and see the world while their sons Jerry and Rick worked for Norwegian Cruise Lines. They retired to Ocala, Florida, before ultimately returning to Sheboygan, WI, to spend more time with their family, friends, and grandchildren.They were married for 47 years, until Ken's passing in 2010.
Doris is survived by her children, Steve (Patti) Farnam of Waukesha, Jerry (Lindy) Farnam of St. Cloud, FL, and Richard Willgrubs of Folsom, CA; her son-in-law, Greg Ruechel of Elkhart Lake, WI; seven grandchildren, Jenny (Adam) Bickel, Joshua (Alyssa) Farnam, Chelsea Roper, Adam (Courtney) Ruechel, Kira Ruechel, Ashley Willgrubs, and Matthew Willgrubs; and nine great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her brothers Alvin, Silas, Archie, Lester, and Helmer; her first husband, Daniel Farnam; her second husband, Ken Willgrubs; her daughter, Roxann Ruechel; and an infant son.
A graveside service will be held at the Ettrick Cemetery in Ettrick, WI, at 12:30 PM on Friday, Novemeber 21, 2025.
Cremation services and funeral arrangements are being managed by Sippel Funeral Home of New Holstein.
Doris' family would like to thank the staff at Lake Country Health Services, Lake Shore Hospice, and Aurora Summit Medical Center in Oconomowoc for their care and support over the last six months.