Jane (Hartman) Dohler

MONONA-Jane (Hartman) Dohler, age 77, of Monona, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015, at Oakwood Village, Prairie Ridge. She was born on Aug. 19, 1938, in Kokomo, Ind., the daughter of Harry and Anna (Rodabough) Hartman. Jane married David E. Dohler on Aug. 26, 1962, in Kokomo, Ind. Jane grew up on a farm in central Indiana. She always enjoyed being outside with her father, driving tractors and working with livestock. She graduated from Valparaiso University in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts degree for high school math education. That summer while working at the W.T. Grant store in Kokomo, she met Dave who came in to buy a toy for his brother. The rest as they say is history. She was truly "A Million Dollar Baby in a Five and Ten Cent Store". Dave & Jane were married two years later and subsequently moved to Endicott, N.Y. There, due to a teacher shortage she was quickly recruited as a second grade teacher. In the spring, her students had record high scores on the math portions of their achievement tests. During the summers she returned to Indiana and earned her Master of Science in Education degree from Indiana University. In January of 1966, Jane, Dave and Denyse moved to Madison, Wis., to be closer to their midwestern families. At that point, Jane left teaching to devote her full time to her family, church and community. Jane was a true servant-leader. She filled many roles at her church over the years, from Sunday school and VBS teacher to Church Council President. She coordinated Stewardship and capital campaigns, volunteered with the Food Pantry, coordinated funeral luncheons and was active in the Lutheran Church Women circles and synod gatherings. She enjoyed music and sang in the church choir for many years, and she was the project manager for a major addition to the church facility. Jane found many of her closest lifelong friends through her church activities. There was much fun and fellowship while good works were being accomplished from the living portrayal of DaVinci's The Last Supper, to making candy in the Governor's Mansion and quilting. She served for several years on the board for the Dane County Jail Ministry. In 1988 she received the St Stephen's award for "Appreciation of her Dedicated Service to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church." Jane was one of the founders of the Monona Winnichols 4-H club where she shared her love of sewing, cooking, gardening, and service in the community. Jane found enjoyment in her vegetable and flower gardens and produced countless delicious meals from them. In winter she loved to play in the snow by cross country skiing, snowshoeing and just shoveling. She was a sports fan. Besides following her children's activities, she loved her Brewers and her Packers. In the summer she spent many hours biking, canoeing and walking in the wonderful Wisconsin out of doors. While the children were at home, the family often spent time in the summer traveling around the U.S. After the children were grown, Jane taught for several years in the Special Education unit of Monona Grove High School. At that time, Jane & Dave discovered the joys of international travel. They traveled to many countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America as well as Hawaii, Alaska and Canada. One of her more memorable experiences was a cruise on the Amazon River where she broke her arm and had to be evacuated from the heart of the rain forest. In the past few years Jane endured a gradual onslaught of frontotemporal dementia. Although the disease limited her ability to communicate, she was ready with a warm smile whenever family and friends were around. She lived through this last phase of life with courage and strength until her struggle was ended by a pulmonary embolism. Jane is survived by her husband; children, Denyse (Jeff) Baker, Dorene (Roger) Schink and Daaron (Amy) Dohler; six grandchildren, Jennifer, Jackson, Elizabeth, Addison, Katelyn, and Lora; two brothers, Leonard (Dorothy) Hartman and Harold Hartman; one sister, Marilyn (John) Berry; sister-in-law, Velma Hartman; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Glenn Hartman; and sister-in-law, Eleanor Hartman. Funeral services will be held at ST. STEPHEN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5700 Pheasant Hill Rd., Monona, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday. Memorials may be made to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church. We would like to thank the staff at Oakwood Village and Senior Helpers for their wonderful support and care during Jane's illness. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420