Doris Remmel

1926 - 2021

Doris Remmel

Oshkosh - Doris was born April 20, 1926, at the family farm in Zittau (Wolf River), Wisconsin. She passed away quietly on June 8, 2021, at her Evergreen Retirement Community home in Oshkosh, where she had lived since 2013.

Doris was always engaged with life, especially with family and friends. After graduating from Winneconne High School, she obtained a teaching certificate from the Oshkosh State Teachers College. A brief career at the one-room schoolhouse in Clayton, Wisconsin, was cut short by her decision to fly to Berlin, Germany to marry her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Don Remmel, who was stationed there with the U.S. Army. They married on January 17, 1948, with Mom wearing a borrowed wedding dress and surrounded by Dad's Army buddies. They honeymooned throughout war-torn Europe, the eye-opening adventure of a lifetime.

Mom remained close to childhood and church friends all her life and made treasured work friends during her years in the Sears catalogue department. Card party friends, neighbors on Prospect and Pine Streets in Appleton, cousins, siblings, in-laws, children, grandchildren and now the greats were all central to her universe.

Doris baked more cookies than anyone can imagine, and freely shared them at every event. She was a quiet soul who never wanted to be the center of attention, had a good (sometimes sassy) sense of humor, and a big smile that won hearts, all the way to the end. A grandson summed her up this way: "She was my best listener." She kept her sewing machine humming while her kids grew up, and always had an embroidery project in her hands if she was sitting down. There were bound to be good smells coming from her kitchen, and she loved the flowers coming up in the spring. Like her mother, she was a welcoming and hospitable soul, and loved hosting parties and dinners.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Donald; by her parents Frank and Augusta (Metzig) Berndt; her brothers William(Edna) Berndt and Wilbert Berndt; and her sister Ethel(Francis)Young. Don's parents Raymond and Gertrude Remmel went before, as did her brothers-in-law, Robert(Audrey) Remmel, Raymond Remmel, and Eldrew Gast.

She is survived by her children: Joy(Thomas)Arens, Larsen, Debra(Gerald) Andrews, Neenah, and Donn Ray(Catherine) Remmel, New London; by her grandchildren Kim(JJ) Eaton, Gina(Joe) Rohs, Patrick(Kelly) Arens, Nicholas(Nicole) Andrews, Peter(Katie) Andrinas, Sam Remmel and Daniel Remmel. She leaves behind beloved great-grandchildren Jamie Eaton, Rachel(Wes) Peck, Emily Eaton, Maggie(Cale) Yerigan, Joseph(Meg)Rohs, Hope, Holly and Hailey Arens, and Leif Andrinas. She celebrated the births of great-great-grandchildren D.J. Rohs and Lainie Yerigan. Doris also leaves behind her sister, Wilma Gast, sisters-in law Jeanne(Ed) Kiesow, Luella Remmel, Ina Mae(Gaylord) Remmel, and Margie(Jerry)Jankowski.

Our family owes an enormous debt of gratitude to Mom's caregivers at Evergreen, in both the memory care and nursing care homes. She was treated with kindness, respect and dignity all the way; you were there for her in a way we couldn't be during the period of Covid isolation. Julie, you became a dear friend to Mom and to us. Aunt Luella, thanks for your understanding and check-ins.

Doris was a faithful lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Zittau, where she was baptized and confirmed. She will be buried in the cemetery there, next to Donald and generations of her family and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 12 at 11AM at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 9077 North Rd., Fremont with Pastor Mark Kinney officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday, from 9AM until the time of service.

Memorial gifts can be directed to the Evergreen Foundation, Oshkosh, or to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Zittau.