Dorothy M. Parker

Dorothy Parker, (Gwiazdon), passed away in Merrill, WI on 1/20/2021.  

Dorothy Mae Gwiazdon was born on April 6, 1929 in Blaine, Minnesota--the fourth of six children of Lawrence and Sophie Gwiazdon. Her family moved to a farm in Hannibal, Wisconsin, where Dorothy attended elementary school and high school. She met the love of her life there, John Parker, when his two horses kept wandering over to the Gwiazdon property. John would retrieve them always running in to Dorothy. As Dorothy tells it, “those horses sure got out of their pen a lot.”  

Dorothy and John were married January 28, 1947 in Hannibal and moved to Wausau in 1949 where Dorothy happily and proudly raised five children.  As the children grew older, she returned to school and then began working at Wausau Insurance. Always positive, outgoing and energetic, she had a very fulfilling career until her retirement. She loved to golf with her colleagues at Wausau Insurance.

Dorothy was a superb cook, an extraordinary pie and dessert maker, an expert seamstress--and always ready to organize and chair an event. Her creativity was unmatched when it came to sewing Halloween or other costumes for her and John—and other family members.

Dorothy was a loving and nurturing mother who supported her family in so many ways. In her later years, she and her four sisters would get together often to share fun times, great meals and silly conversations.

Dorothy volunteered for many worthy community projects and was an enthusiastic organizer of the Annual Treasure Sale at Saint Matthew Catholic Church in Wausau. She and John were longtime, devoted members of Saint Matthew’s. Although she couldn’t attend many church activities in recent years, she welcomed many visits and calls of support from her church family. Dorothy also assisted several  “older ladies” with errands, housekeeping chores and transportation well into her 80s.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband of 73 years, John, her brother Mike Gwiazdon and sister Lorraine Johnson. She is survived by sisters Josephine Pink, Gilman, WI, Vickie Mudgett, Ingram Texas and Pat (Bill) Westaby, Coon Rapids, MN. She is further survived by five children: Steve (Penni) Parker, Breezy Point, MN; Robert Parker, Corpus Christi, TX; Patti (Kirk) Howard, Merrill, WI; Tom (Tammy) Parker, Wausau; and Lisa Parker (Joe Richardson), Reston, VA.; and five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Dorothy will be missed by countless friends and extended family that she cherished. 

The family would like to acknowledge and thank all the wonderful health care providers and staff at Pinecrest Nursing Home in Merrill for their patient and loving care and Aspirus Hospice.

The family will hold a private memorial service to celebrate Dorothy’s life next spring. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial funds are being established.

Online condolences may be made at Peterson/Kramer Funeral Home. (www.petersonkraemer.com)