CROSS PLAINS - Dorothy L. “Chris” Zander, age 97, of Cross Plains, died on Monday, June 24, 2024, at All Saints Memory Care.

Mom was born on Jan. 8, 1927, to Otto and Petronilla “Nelly” Reiels in Madison. She graduated from Middleton High School and worked at First National Bank in downtown Madison before meeting Mark, the love of her life. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before his passing in 2014.

She was an amazing mother who raised five children, 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Mom multi-tasked as a chef, baker (ginger snap cookies were her specialty), seamstress, gardener, florist and managed household finances. In her “spare” time she made doll dresses, blankets, knit treasured dish cloths and hats for cancer patients. She also used her talents to create needlepoint pictures, paintings and calligraphy on many certificates for local organizations.

Mom was a long-time member of St. Francis Xavier and the Christian Mothers. She was an avid golfer spending many Tuesdays at Lake Wisconsin Country Club and also participated in local bowling leagues. If you knew Mom, she traveled everywhere with a deck of cards and played in several area card clubs. If it wasn’t cards, it was Scrabble or any other board game that brought people together.

Mom and dad spent several winters in Texas before moving to Lake Worth, Fla., where they enjoyed many activities and friendships with Wisconsin snowbirds. The warmer months were spent back in Cross Plains with the summer highlight being “Christmas in July” when all the kids and grandkids made the trip from all directions to gather in northern Wisconsin. A tradition that spanned 25 years.

Our family would like to thank the staff at All Saints Memory Care for their compassionate care and support where mom spent the last two years and also the spiritual support of Monsignor Healy.

Survivors include her children, David (Diane), Stan (Helene), Cindy (Thom) Palmer, Jeff (Lisa) and Tom (Traci); and 13 grandchildren, Jacquelyn, Melissa (Seth), Macy (Andi), Lindsay, Danielle (Kyle), Miles (Lindsay), Rachel (Matt), Brandon, Madison (Jack), Bailey, Mackenzie, Brooke and Victoria; and sister-in-law, Katy Zander. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mark; daughter in infancy, Patricia Lou; sister, Freida (Sam) Noftle; brothers, Henry, James (Jean) and Robert Reiels; brothers-in-law, Gerald (Virginia), Edward (Mabel), Paul “Hans” and Daniel (Mary) Zander; and sisters-in-law, Marie (Otto) Bloechl and Lucille (Ado) Klinkner.

A Memorial Mass will be held at ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2947 Thinnes St., Cross Plains, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2024, with Father Michael Wanta and Monsignor Gerard Healy officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to St. Francis Xavier Endowment Fund, Agrace Foundation or All Saints Memory Care. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761

Dorothy "Chris" Lucia Zander

January 08, 1927 - June 24, 2024

Share memories of Dorothy