Doreen Saunders
It is with great sadness that the family of Doreen Saunders announces her passing on August 27, 2024 at the age of 89.
Dora Doreen (Taylor) Saunders of Browntown, WI was born on May 25, 1935 to Verl and Gertrude (Morrison) Taylor of Mount Ida, WI. Doreen (Dee to many of her friends) graduated from Fennimore High School in 1953 and a year later successfully completed the secretarial course from the Madison Business College. This education and training opened the door for employment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Doreen served as the primary secretary for the Director of the College of Engineering’s Solar Energy lab. She was proud to be involved with cutting edge solar energy research. Doreen was a trailblazer in her work, and personal life. At age 21 Doreen and her friend Betty did an extensive road trip exploring Colorado. Two young women traveling alone in a car and sleeping in tents was at best frowned upon during the mid-50s. She was a brave trailblazer.
Doreen met Robert S. DiTulio at a USO dance in Madison; they married, had three boys, and later divorced. Doreen is survived by her three sons. They are Mike (Lavonn) DiTulio of Mecosta, MI, Jim (Theresa) DiTulio of Macomb, IL, and John DiTulio and partner Amanda Yaun of Monroe, WI. Doreen is also survived by 5 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and a sister Dana (Taylor) Knutson of Prairie du Chien, WI. Doreen and Dana’s brother Chuck W. Taylor passed away in 2017.
Doreen loved to dance and in 1982 she was swept off her feet by a man who could really dance… & tell stories, Dick “Diesel Dick” Saunders. They married in 1985 and shared a good life together settling down on a little farmette off of Hwy 11 near Browntown, WI until Dick’s passing in 2016. Doreen will be laid to rest next to Dick in the Calvary Cemetery, Monroe, WI.
Doreen loved music with a good beat, played the piano and organ, and was a proud member of St. John’s United Church of Christ and the choir in Monroe, WI for many years. Doreen enjoyed a good baseball game and followed the Milwaukee Braves until they became the Milwaukee Brewers! She watched every game she could and kept a Brewers team roster by her recliner. In addition to Brewers baseball she was a fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers.
Doreen was a kind and compassionate soul whose Christian faith was strong. She quietly helped many in need and followed the teachings of Christ to “do onto others as you would have them do onto you”. Faith, family, and friends were the corner stones of her life’s foundation. While she enjoyed traveling in her younger years, later in life she preferred to spend time with her family. She would take a grilled hamburger at home over a fancy meal out on the town any day. Doreen Saunders left this world with the peace of Christ and the love of family and friends. She will be missed but never forgotten.
2 Timothy 4:7 says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Doreen’s visitation will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024 from 12PM (noon) – 2PM at Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home, 1455 Mansion Dr. Monroe, WI. A Graveside Service follow at Calvary Cemetery with Rev. Christina Schoenwetter officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Family of Doreen Saunders or donations in her honor can be made to the McDonough District Hospital Hospice program in Macomb IL. https://www.mdh.org/get-involved/make-a-gift/
