Alice Margaret Dickmann

Alice Stern Dickmann loved being active. Golf, tennis, bowling and card playing were just a few of her many pastimes. She also enjoyed gardening and working in her yard. Alice Margaret Stern was born on September 6, 1922 to Peter and Marie Stern who owned the IGA (later Sentry) grocery store in Grafton. After graduating from Grafton High School, she continued her education at the Milwaukee Business University and majored in bookkeeping and accounting. After graduation, she was hired for a position in the accounts receivable department at Harley Davidson and later became the personal secretary to the controller. It was here she met and became part of the Harley “gang” as they called themselves; a group of 7 women who stayed friends and partied together for over 60 years. During high school, Alice began dating an old friend, Jerry Dickmann and when he was drafted in 1943 and sent to England, they kept in touch with many letters and Alice sent “care” packages overseas for Jerry. During this time, Alice was still working at Harley Davidson and had an apartment with friends. On weekends they would all take the Interurban train back to Grafton. On August 15, 1945 the war ended and Alice said it was like every person in Milwaukee was downtown and celebrating. Jerry was honorably discharged on October 14, 1945 and a week later he and Alice drove to Lake Michigan near Grafton where he proposed and she accepted. They were married on May 18, 1946 and had four children, John, Kathleen, David and Ann. In November of 1957, Jerry and Alice started their own business J. W. Dickmann Manufacturing Company which they ran successfully and passed to their sons in October, 1987 when they retired. Alice is preceded in death by her husband, Jerome, her four brothers and two sisters-in-law and her dear friend, John Van Sickle. She is survived by one sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and James Gardener and sister-in-law Louise Stern and her four children and spouses; John and Mari Dickmann, Kathleen and Mark Kunstman, David and Bonnie Dickmann, Ann and Greg Bachrach. She is further survived by eight grandchildren and their spouses and twelve great-grandchildren. Alice and Jerry enjoyed tennis and golf and bridge games with friends. They also enjoyed spending time at the second home on Lake Michigan in Oostburg. Alice loved her home in Grafton and loved gardening and working in the yard. And in 2014 Ann’s daughter Justine held her wedding to Brian Bieganski in that beautiful yard. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 16, 2016 at 11:30am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1619 Washington Street in Grafton. Interment church cemetery. Visitation at the church on Friday from 9:00am to 11:15am. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Joseph catholic Church, Anita’s Garden in Grafton or Sharon Richardson Hospice in Sheboygan Falls appreciated. Approximately a year ago, Alice moved into Anita’s Garden Assisted Living in Grafton and was well taken care of by the wonderful staff there. She also received help from Sharon Richardson Community Hospice Service and our family thanks them all for their help and quality care.