Doris (Bohren) Ulmen, age 85, of Monroe passed away peacefully on Friday, February 20, 2026, at Pleasant View Nursing Home.
Doris was born on June 17, 1940, to Peter and Wanda (Jegerlehner) Bohren and grew up at the Kueng Cheese factory near Juda alongside her older brother, Charlie. After graduating from Monroe High School in 1958, she attended Rockford Business College and began writing to her future husband, Norbert Ulmen, who was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army after seeing an ad in Catholic Extension magazine requesting people write to young Catholic soldiers overseas. Following Norbert's return to the U.S and honorable discharge, they both enrolled at the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus. On December 26, 1959, Doris and Norbert were married in St. Paul during winter break, celebrating with a cross-country honeymoon drive to Arizona.
In 1962, the family settled in the country south of Monroe, and in 1978 moved into the city, where Doris provided in-home childcare for several years. She later returned to school and earned a teaching degree from UW-Platteville in 1990. She went on to substitute teach at area schools and taught at Blackhawk Technical College, working with disabled adults. She also traveled overseas to Switzerland and Germany, and visited the Holy Land — a journey of a lifetime.
Doris was a devoted member of St. Victor Catholic Church, where she shared her kindness and compassion through volunteer work — assisting with the liturgy, distributing communion to the homebound, and visiting residents of area nursing homes. She had a lifelong love of reading and a deep affection for animals, including her Basset hound, Taffy. In her younger years she also enjoyed many adventures on horseback with her horse, Diablo.
Doris is survived by her husband, Norbert; children Sr. Anne (LSJ), Francis, Matt (Tami), Mark (Amy), Ben (Abbie); four grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Charles; and sister-in-law, Gladys.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 28th, at St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe. Visitation will be on Friday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, and at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be directed to St Clare of Assisi Parish, the Thomas F. Campion Charitable Fund, or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Pleasant View Nursing Home for their loving care and also SSM Hospice.
The Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.newcomerfuneralhome.net
