Dolores M. Lonsdorf

Dolores Margarite Lonsdorf 91, of the Village of Maine, died peacefully, Tuesday, November 23, 2021, with family at her side.

She was born April 11, 1930, in Wausau to Edward and Gertrude (Schneider) Litzer.

She was united in marriage to George J. Lonsdorf in August 1948 and together they operated a Guernsey dairy farm and orchard until their retirement in 1991.  George and Dolores raised 11 children on their farm.

Dolores loved farm life and was particularly good at gardening.  She was happiest when she could be, outdoors or in, with her hands in the dirt.  She enjoyed sharing the bounty of her garden with her family and friends and there were always fresh and preserved vegetables and fruits for the table.  Dolores and George also developed Silver Creek Orchards on their farm and raised an abundance of fresh apples for the Wausau Farmers Market.  Dolores loved animals and took special care of the young calves, the chickens and the geese on the farm.  But her greatest joy was her cats.  You would often find her in the afternoon with a beautiful cat napping in her lap.  She took pride in raising kittens that could go to a family needing a special pet. 

With a quiet compassion, she lived with a natural ability to nurture living things; her garden, her children, her brown laying hens & her fluffy cats. One of her favorite card games was sheepshead (schafkopf). She enjoyed it especially if she could win a hand against George. Besides raising 11 children, Dolores was also active in the Town of Maine Homemakers Club for many years and was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Wausau.

Dolores is survived by her brother, Donald (Nancy) Litzer and 10 children whose lives she influenced forever: George Lonsdorf Jr. of Madison, Tim (Stella) Lonsdorf of Wausau, Linda (Bob) Davis of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Daniel Lonsdorf of Middleton, Marshall Lonsdorf of Maine, Laurie (Mike) Kennedy of Carver, Minnesota, Peggy Griffin of Wausau, Roseanne (Martin) Hanley of Wausau, Christopher Lonsdorf of Wausau and Andrew (Mera) Lonsdorf of Maine. Dolores has 12 wonderful grandchildren: Stephen & Melody Lonsdorf, Kathleen Vanderstappen, Vincent Vignali & Andrea Fleischman, Leeann  Duwe, Philip, Patrick & Matthew Hanley, and Elizabeth & Mariah Lonsdorf. 

Dolores is preceded in death by her beloved husband, George Lonsdorf, parents, Edward and Gertrude Litzer, her brother, Edward Litzer Jr., her daughter Suzanne Elizabeth Lonsdorf, one grandson, Anthony Lonsdorf and son in law, Dennis Griffin.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday November 30, 2021, at St. Anne Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. Tom Lindner will preside. A private burial will follow in the Lonsdorf Family Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday, Nov 29, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau and on Tuesday from 12:00 p.m. until the time of services at the church.

Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com