Dorrie Lundquist
April 23, 1950 - November 05, 2023
Obituary
MADISON / DEFOREST - Dorrie Lundquist, age 73, of DeForest, Wis., passed away on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, following post-surgical complications. She was born in Superior, Wis., on April 23, 1950. Following her 1968 graduation from Superior Senior High School, she first attended UW-Superior and then graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 1973, with a degree in Social Work.
Dorrie loved her lifelong career with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, from which she retired in 2003 as a Probation and Parole Supervisor. She was a staunch advocate for her clients, and her dedication landed her a spot on the Governor’s Task Force on Corrections. Her career also yielded a personal bonus, since the DOC was where she met her future husband, Jerry Vigdal. They were married on Aug. 7, 1987. It’s fitting for Dorrie, a self-proclaimed feminist, that the couple was married by Justice Shirley Abrahamson, the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Dorrie was a lifelong proud Democrat. Her political journey started with marching at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago when she was just 18 and protesting the Vietnam War two years later. She also worked on the campaigns of George McGovern, John Kerry, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, as well as numerous local candidates. Volunteering was always important to Dorrie. She worked with the Oshkosh Boys and Girls Club while in college and was the first female recipient of the Club’s annual award. After graduation, she volunteered with a battered women’s association for three years, was Vice President for Turning Point for four years and volunteered as a guardian for a disabled adult for seven years. Until Dorrie moved to DeForest in 2011, she was an active member of Burke Lutheran Church, volunteering weekly at the church-sponsored Red Barn thrift shop for seven years.
Dorrie subscribed to several online national newspapers and magazines, allowing her to keep up on current events until the last days of her life. She had very strong opinions on politics, which she was never shy to share!
In addition to her husband, Dorrie was pre-deceased by her parents, Roy and Patricia Lundquist; and her brother-in-law, Dean Johnson. She is survived by her daughter, Tracy Renee (Armando) Arismendi of Wake Forest, N.C.; sisters, Barb Johnson of Stillwater, Minn., and Tracey (Bill) Reams of Middleton, Wis.; brother, Jason Lundquist of Middleton, Wis.; and her stepson and daughter-in-law, Greg and Amy Vigdal of Cottage Grove, Wis. Dorrie and Jerry also shared grandchildren, Ike Murov, and Ashlee, Emma and Devin Vigdal. She’s also survived by a special cousin, Judy Ward Mossberger of Superior, Wis.; nephews, Gabe Johnson of Duluth, Minn., Jared Gramstrup (Matt Quiñones) of Astoria, N.Y.; and Roy Lundquist of Middleton, Wis.; and niece, Mae Lundquist of Middleton, Wis. Dorrie was also blessed by a group of close, long-time friends from her years at the Department of Corrections.
Dorrie loved gardening, her Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers, home decorating and entertaining. It was her love of treating family members to beautiful holiday meals that led her family to designate memorial donations to the NBC15 Share Your Holidays campaign, where funds will benefit the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Should friends desire, donations can be made online, at https://www.nbc15.com/share-your-holidays. Donations may also be made in Dorrie’s name to Doctors Without Borders, one of Dorrie’s favorite charities.
Per Dorrie’s wishes, no public services will be held. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420