Kratochwill, Doreen Alice (Gundlach)

Doreen Alice (Gundlach) Kratochwill, age 69, of Highland, passed away on November 17, 2024, surrounded by her devoted husband and loving children. Doreen was taught to "pull herself up by the bootstraps," and her battle with ALS was truly a courageous one, as she endured the insidious disease for more than a decade.

Doreen was born on May 11, 1955, the only daughter of Kenneth and Eileen (Wepking) Gundlach. Growing up with four brothers, Doreen was a tomboy, playing baseball and working on the family farm. Doreen attended Highland High School, graduating in 1973. She was a good student and a hard worker; in high school, she won the Betty Crocker Award and proved herself as not only a gifted reader but also writer and orator. After graduation, she worked for Iowa County for 13 years before making a career change to work at Richland Family Prescription Center, where she would become an essential employee, managing the financials for the pharmacy. Doreen continued to work at the pharmacy long after she was diagnosed with ALS, but she ultimately left the position in 2019.

In 1977, Doreen married the love of her life, Charlie Kratochwill, and together they had four children: Rachael, Colin, Gretchen, and Nolan. Doreen was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, and caretaker throughout her life. While working, she always made time for her children—even amongst the chaos in her household while her husband worked third shift. She, despite not being a real fan of Halloween, lovingly sewed Halloween costumes—even so far as quilted shells for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costumes; truly, she could whip up anything her children desired. She let her children make messes—and memories. One of her favorite pastimes was cooking, but she especially loved baking. For all of the major holidays, she made cut-out cookies from scratch, letting her children decorate them after they were frosted. Her best desserts were these cookies, of course, as well as her peanut butter bars, cream cheese dessert, and cherry pie. Those she loved were often showered with her talents, as she delivered her homemade meals and goodies.

Doreen was a voracious reader from the beginning, and she even read the entire library in her 3rd grade classroom. She loved to learn and instilled this love into all four of her children. She loved movies and music; she was wicked smart and held firm political beliefs. When asked about her greatest accomplishment in life, Doreen's answer was "my children." She relished in being a grandmother and taking family vacations or girls trips with her daughters and granddaughters. Her priority was family, always, and she loved telling or hearing stories about family, past and present.

Doreen was positive throughout her battle. She continued to tell her corny puns—and stressed how laughter is truly medicine. Sometimes, though, you have to laugh—because, if you don't, you'll cry. We cry for the loss of our beautiful mother. Each day we had her with us was a gift.

Doreen is survived by her husband of over 47 years, Charlie Kratochwill, and her four children and five grandchildren, Rachael (Bill) Wolf of Evansville, Wisconsin, and their daughters, Melina and Alessa Wolf; Colin (Melissa Stiles) of Readstown, Wisconsin; Gretchen Kratochwill-Jones (Justin) of Dubuque, Iowa, and their sons, Ronan, Ivan, and Doran Jones; and Nolan of Highland, Wisconsin. She is also survived by her brothers Marty (Nancy) and Brad Gundlach, her sister-in-law Mary Jo Gundlach, and her Kratochwill in-laws, Jim, Joanie, Gary, Susie (Gary) Farrell, and Brian (Carol), as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Doreen was preceded in death by her mother, Eileen, and her father, Kenneth, as well as her brothers Kevin and Keith Gundlach, and two special sisters-in-law, Ann Gundlach and Jan Conley.

The Kratochwill family sends a special thank you to everyone who visited Doreen. Additionally, thank you to Teri Spink for coming to our home to beautify our mother; thank you to Upland Hills Hospice, and especially thank you to our mom's private nurses, Felicia Gundlach and Stacy Campbell, who are not just caretakers but also immediate family in our eyes.

A celebration of life will be held at Pratt Funeral Home in Muscoda, Wisconsin, located at 710 N. Wisconsin Avenue, on Sunday, December 1, 2024, from 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Our family requests no flowers. In lieu of flowers, our family would appreciate donations to be made to NextGen ALS, which specifically funds genetic ALS research (NextGen ALS, PO Box 14, Wrightstown, WI 54180).