Dolores L. Jaech

1934 - 2024

Dolores L Jaech

August 10, 1934 - January 15, 2024

New Hudson, Michigan - Dolores L. Jaech, travel and cat aficionado, went to be with her Lord on January 15, 2024 at Abbey Park in Hudson, MI from complications of Covid-19. The former Richland, WA and South Milwaukee, WI resident was 89. Born and raised in the Milwaukee area, she married Marine veteran Robert J. Nelson in 1954 and had two boys with him in 1955 and 1958. Her husband's engineering career took them first to Akron, Ohio and then to Rochester, NY where he tragically died in a car accident in 1962 at only 29 years old. She remarried in 1963 and had a third child, a daughter, with Bruce Wachholz who upon finishing his Ph.D. took his 1st job at Battelle Northwest in eastern Washington State and moved his new family out there. Upon dissolution of the marriage, Dolores moved with her three children back to her roots in South Milwaukee, WI where they stayed until she was enticed to move back to Richland in 1974 and become the stepmother to six more children. There she stayed until 2022 when she moved to central MI to be close to her large family there. In addition to her many years spent being a mother, "Donnie" as she was known to close friends and family, also worked multiple administrative jobs at WPPSS and Chicago Title and volunteered for the PTA, several churches, taught Sunday school and vacation bible school, mentored elementary students in reading and was heavily involved in the volunteer organization of the local hospital, Kadlec in Richland. No matter where she lived, Dolores was a regular attendant and heavily involved in the activities and administration of a local Lutheran church. Her marriages to men whose jobs involved travel had her travelling with them to Europe and across the continental US and instilled in her a love that she kept up even when she was single. She took in a stray cat in 1966 and was never without a feline companion or two until 2021, especially favoring black ones. An avid Packers fan, she got to watch them demolish the Cowboys on her last day alive and she was also a keen follower of professional golf. A holiday, and especially Christmas enthusiast, she loved decorating and owned a vast collection of Christmas art and music. She is survived by sons Reverend Terry Nelson of Fowlerville, MI, Dr. Jay Nelson of Timonium, MD, daughter Janice Wachholz of Woodinville, WA, brother Leroy Last of Campbellsport, WI, sister Sandy Greulich of Racine, WI, three nieces, 2 nephews, six grandchildren (the apples of her eye) and thirteen great-grandchildren. We will miss her spirit but know that she is now at home with her Savior. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Milwaukee, WI with interment to follow next to her deceased first husband, Robert Nelson at Arlington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to your local SPCA or Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in South Lyon, MI (https://www.cofcsl.org/).