Obituary for Doris Ofstad
Doris Ann (Rowe) Ofstad, 85, of Gurney, Wis., passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 19, 2021.
Doris was born Oct. 6, 1935 in Gurney, Wis., to Lester and Lucille (Lee) Rowe. She was one of 7 children and attended school in Gurney and in Saxon, Wis. On December 13, 1952, Doris married the love of her life, Robert Ofstad, of Superior, Wis. They made their home in Gurney with their 8 children and were married for 66 years before Robert’s passing in January 2019.
Doris headed the Gurney General Store until 1976 in conjunction with being the US Postmaster in Gurney from 1961 until her retirement in 1990. She also worked at Arts Unlimited for many years after. Doris worked throughout her life at the Bar-Hoffner farm, and her family farm — Rowe’s Potato Farm — picking potatoes. She was in 4-H throughout her youth, and was a leader for years, passing on her knowledge to area children.
She was an avid gardener and sewer, and loved to bake and cook for her large family. Doris was Homemaker of the Year at the Iron County Fair numerous times, and loved to display her crafts and bakery. Over her life she made thousands of dozens of cookies that she would sell at holidays or for special events with the help of her two daughters and various grandchildren. Doris also made clothing for many area people, including her signature striped t-shirts through “Doris Ann Designs”.
Doris loved games like Yahtzee, Rummy, Smear, Chinese Checkers and Bingo. She liked to gamble and had no problem winning money from her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids alike. She loved visits to the casino and when it was time to go home, she would slide over $10 to her ride so they could “play a little bit longer.” You usually won on her $10 too — she was quite lucky.
Country music was always on the radio and she loved going to Hodag with her sister Janice “Tootie” and brother-in-law Darrell Rice, as well as other family members. During baseball season, the radio would be on to listen faithfully to Bob Uecker as she cheered on her beloved Milwaukee Brewers. She never missed an episode of Wheel of Fortune if she could help it, and she liked to watch the hummingbirds on her front porch each summer.
Doris is survived by her eight children — Dale (Diane), of Gurney, Wis., Roxanne (Bruce) Norman, of Davenport, Iowa, Bob (Cathy), of Hurley, Wis., Danny (Sharon), of Kimball, Wis., Toni (Roger) Ratkowski, of Saxon, Wis., Jamie (Nichole Carter) of Saxon, Wis., Perry (Staci Smith), of Saxon Wis., and Stacy (Heidi), of Saxon, Wis.; 23 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild; siblings Dan (Gayle) Rowe, of Gurney, Robert (Sandra), of Saxon, Wis., and Jim Rowe, of Gurney; sister-in-law Martha (Piilola) Rowe, of Barnes, Wis., and brother-in-law Darrell Rice, of Tripoli, Wis.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband Robert; parents Lester and Lucile (Lee) Rowe; parents-in-law Inga (Swanson) and Parrell Ofstad; siblings Dick Rowe, Dave Rowe and Janice “Tootie” (Rowe) Rice; brother-and sister-in-laws Annette (Ofstad) and Ted Johnson; sister-in-law Gloria (Luoma) Rowe; and grandchildren Damien Norman and Wendy Ofstad.
There will be a visitation and celebration of life on Thursday, Aug. 26th at the Gurney Community Center at 1 p.m. for family and friends. A private service for family will be held at 11 a.m. with internment at Edgewood Cemetery in Gurney to follow.
Doris was born Oct. 6, 1935 in Gurney, Wis., to Lester and Lucille (Lee) Rowe. She was one of 7 children and attended school in Gurney and in Saxon, Wis. On December 13, 1952, Doris married the love of her life, Robert Ofstad, of Superior, Wis. They made their home in Gurney with their 8 children and were married for 66 years before Robert’s passing in January 2019.
Doris headed the Gurney General Store until 1976 in conjunction with being the US Postmaster in Gurney from 1961 until her retirement in 1990. She also worked at Arts Unlimited for many years after. Doris worked throughout her life at the Bar-Hoffner farm, and her family farm — Rowe’s Potato Farm — picking potatoes. She was in 4-H throughout her youth, and was a leader for years, passing on her knowledge to area children.
She was an avid gardener and sewer, and loved to bake and cook for her large family. Doris was Homemaker of the Year at the Iron County Fair numerous times, and loved to display her crafts and bakery. Over her life she made thousands of dozens of cookies that she would sell at holidays or for special events with the help of her two daughters and various grandchildren. Doris also made clothing for many area people, including her signature striped t-shirts through “Doris Ann Designs”.
Doris loved games like Yahtzee, Rummy, Smear, Chinese Checkers and Bingo. She liked to gamble and had no problem winning money from her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids alike. She loved visits to the casino and when it was time to go home, she would slide over $10 to her ride so they could “play a little bit longer.” You usually won on her $10 too — she was quite lucky.
Country music was always on the radio and she loved going to Hodag with her sister Janice “Tootie” and brother-in-law Darrell Rice, as well as other family members. During baseball season, the radio would be on to listen faithfully to Bob Uecker as she cheered on her beloved Milwaukee Brewers. She never missed an episode of Wheel of Fortune if she could help it, and she liked to watch the hummingbirds on her front porch each summer.
Doris is survived by her eight children — Dale (Diane), of Gurney, Wis., Roxanne (Bruce) Norman, of Davenport, Iowa, Bob (Cathy), of Hurley, Wis., Danny (Sharon), of Kimball, Wis., Toni (Roger) Ratkowski, of Saxon, Wis., Jamie (Nichole Carter) of Saxon, Wis., Perry (Staci Smith), of Saxon Wis., and Stacy (Heidi), of Saxon, Wis.; 23 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild; siblings Dan (Gayle) Rowe, of Gurney, Robert (Sandra), of Saxon, Wis., and Jim Rowe, of Gurney; sister-in-law Martha (Piilola) Rowe, of Barnes, Wis., and brother-in-law Darrell Rice, of Tripoli, Wis.
Doris was preceded in death by her husband Robert; parents Lester and Lucile (Lee) Rowe; parents-in-law Inga (Swanson) and Parrell Ofstad; siblings Dick Rowe, Dave Rowe and Janice “Tootie” (Rowe) Rice; brother-and sister-in-laws Annette (Ofstad) and Ted Johnson; sister-in-law Gloria (Luoma) Rowe; and grandchildren Damien Norman and Wendy Ofstad.
There will be a visitation and celebration of life on Thursday, Aug. 26th at the Gurney Community Center at 1 p.m. for family and friends. A private service for family will be held at 11 a.m. with internment at Edgewood Cemetery in Gurney to follow.