Dorothy Martha Fennig

OREGON-Dorothy Martha Fennig, age 97, of Oregon, passed away on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, at the Beehives Home of Oregon. She was born on April 26, 1921, in Milwaukee, the daughter of Frank and Martha (Zarnik) Wienserski. She was baptized as Dorothy Irene on 8 May at Saint Vincent’s Roman Catholic Church and attended grade school at Holy Ghost (now “Spirit”). She was orphaned at age 10 due to a family tragedy; thereafter she took her mother’s name as her middle name. Dorothy first attended Mercy High School on a two-year scholarship, but then transferred to Pulaski High School in South Milwaukee and graduated in 1939. She earned a college scholarship but had to decline due to the need to provide for herself. She then took a job with Prudential Insurance Company and well into World War II she became an assistant office manager managing many older male agents and staff, an achievement well ahead of her time. She married Maurice Lad “Moe” Fennig on Aug. 23, 1947, at the Church of Saint Matthew. She continued in her professional career attaining office manager before resigning in 1954 to start a new life as a mother and full-time homemaker. She later returned to the insurance industry working at WPS Insurance in Madison after her four children left for school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Milwaukee (Jeff). Her children’s achievements were her life’s pride and joy: Chris, a retired U.S. Navy Captain; Sue, a medical doctor in the Madison area community; Gary, a construction manager professional in the hospital sector; and Jeff, a retired and renowned state arson detective and also a former Milwaukee policeman. Throughout her 38-year marriage, she was Moe’s constant business support companion and dedicated spouse as he also worked to his retirement in his profession and as a USAF Colonel in the Wisconsin Air Guard. Dorothy and Moe delighted in their travels to Hawaii (where he died in 1985) and to the East Coast to see Gary and Chris, to witness the success of Sue’s medical school graduation and career, and Jeff’s service in the USAF Wisconsin Air Guard and graduation from the Police Academy which Moe just missed. She and Moe had resided in Milwaukee from 1947 to 1954, Wauwatosa from 1954 to 1962 and Brookfield from 1962 to 1978, the latter being the primary family home where the children grew up. Dorothy is survived in order of age by her children, Christopher G. Fennig, CAPT USN (ret), Dr. Susan M. (Bill) Torhorst, M.D., and Gary G. (Lois) Fennig; daughter-in-law, Anna (Jeff) Fennig; grandchildren, Dr. Christy (Josh) Trautman, M.D.(Sue’s), Cassie (Nick) Torhorst-Wallor D.V.M. (Sue’s), Ashley (Jesse) Fennig-Marshall (Gary’s), Nicole Fennig (Jeff’s), and Carson Torhorst (Sue’s), and only great-grandson, Joseph Trautman. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Maurice L. Fennig; son, Jeffrey G. Fennig; grandson, Michael Fennig (Gary’s); granddaughter, Katelyn Fennig (Jeff’s); and her siblings: Harry (Lillian) Wienser, Gertrude (Julius) Printz, Eugene (Alice) Wienserski and Esther (Gilbert) Hammernik. Esther was her dearest and life-long friend until her passing in 1997. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at HOLY MOTHER OF CONSOLATION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 651 North Main St., Oregon, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2019, with Father Gary Wankerl presiding. Father Gary was her pastor as well at Saint Olaf’s in DeForest for many of the years while she resided in Windsor from 1978 until 2012. The family is grateful he had administered Last Rites in the weeks prior and that he can draw from his Saint Olaf’s pastoral care with her. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Saturday. A private burial will be held at St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetery in Milwaukee on Monday, April 29, 2019. Memorials may be gifted in Dorothy’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital; she attended Saint Jude Apostle Church in Wauwatosa from 1954 to 1978 where her children also attended school. She was a loyal petitioner to the patron Saint of Lost Causes and for the loving intercession of Saint Gerard, patron Saint of Mothers for whom all her sons received their middle name. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com Gunderson Oregon Funeral & Cremation Care 1150 Park Street 608-835-3515