Dorothy J. Paschke

Dorothy J. Paschke, age 90, of Oshkosh, died on October 13, 2025, at Edenbrook Nursing Home. She was born on November 30th, 1934, in Winchester, WI, the daughter of Wego and Ida Peterson. She grew up on a farm in Winchester, without indoor plumbing and electricity. As a little girl, she got very attached to the barn cats on the farm, and cats have been in her life ever since. She often said, "kittens are cuter than babies."

After graduating from Winneconne High in 1952, she married James L. Paschke on February 6, 1954. She went on to have eight children.

In June of 1971, when she was 36 years old, her husband Jim drowned in Lake Butte Des Morts, leaving her a widow to raise their eight children. She did her best to make it through that challenging time.

She loved her work as a cook at the Chalice and at the Nova Treatment Center. She always said the young people that she worked with were so much fun and that they made her feel youthful. She never wanted to be old.

Dorothy loved the color purple, made the best beef barley soup and her brownies were excellent too. She was very generous, she gave whatever she had to whoever needed it. Dorothy loved going to the casinos, except when she lost. She would feed and try to tame feral cats in the neighborhood wherever she lived. She especially loved kittens.

She is survived by her children, Gail (Rick) Sandbeck, Chuck (Kathy), Phil (Diane), Todd, Sandra (George Hagen) Brown and Rodney (Sue Scherer); grandchildren, Deanna (Daniel) Paulsen, Nicholas (Ellisa Heidke) Brown, Ryan (Kara) Kiefer, Casey Lea Wells and bonus grandchild, Kristy Lynn Herzig; great-grandchildren, Andrew Paulsen, Arin Paulsen, Nikki Paulsen, Issac Paulsen, Aria Kiefer, Jasmine Brown, Cinnamon Brown, Noah Brown, Elijah Brown and Lily Brown. She is further survived by cousins, nieces, nephews, long-time friend Betty Haber and high school friend Carolyn Rhoden.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, James; sons, Dennis and Casey; sisters, Ruth Schonscheck and Ethel Johnson; brother, Arden Peterson; cousin, Bob Haber; and her parents, Wego and Ida Peterson.

As per Dorothy's wishes, there will be a private celebration of life with no formal services.


Fox Cities Funeral Home
3026 Jackson Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 966-9000