Doris E. Bulgrin

Doris Erma Bulgrin, of Grafton, was called home to her Lord and Savior, on Sunday, October 6, 2019, at the age of 94 years. Doris was born on October 27, 1924 near 25th and Vliet in Milwaukee to Jay and Lillian (nee Prahl) Graham. She attended Bethlehem Lutheran School in Milwaukee from 1st to 8th grade. She was confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in 1938. Doris attended Girls’ Tech on 19th and Wells in Milwaukee. After graduation, she worked at Archer Daniels Midland Company until the office was closed in May, 1946. She then worked at Wisconsin Light and Power Company in Milwaukee but needed to stop working to help care for her mother. Doris married Norman Bulgrin on June 21, 1947 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Their marriage was blessed with a daughter, Susan and Norman’s two sons, Thomas and Richard. In 1947, they moved to 13th Avenue in Grafton, where they raised their family and Doris lived in the same home for almost 70 years. Doris also worked in Grafton for Futh’s, Gil and Lora, for 17 years in their dry goods store and then in Gil’s tax office. She started at JorMac in Grafton in 1970 and worked as a sales secretary until her retirement. After retirement, Doris spent treasured time with her great-grandchildren, Alli and Jake and helped take care of them while their parents worked. Doris was the matriarch of five generations of first-born women and was immensely proud to be a great-great grandmother. Her family was the joy of her life. Doris was a longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grafton. She volunteered answering the night phone for the Grafton Fire Department in the late 1950’s and 1960’s prior to police dispatching. Doris is survived by her children, Susan (Gary) Mercier of Grafton and Richard (Kathy) Bulgrin of Grafton. Doris is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Joanne Bulgrin of Grafton. She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren Julie (Bryan) Demerath of Monument, Colorado, Amy (Kyle) Sterkenburg of Grafton, Mike Bulgrin of Hayward and Jill (Mike) Rakow of Mequon. She was a treasure to her great-grandchildren Alli (Jason) Gensrick, Jake Demerath, Sophie Sterkenburg and Megan, Jon and Andy Rakow. She was blessed to have a great-great granddaughter, Everly Gensrick. She is also survived by nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends. A special thank you to Ruth Heuer and Fran Betz for their friendship. Thank you also to the staff at Village Point Commons in Grafton and Horizon Hospice. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her son, Thomas; her parents; and her sister Eileen (Harold) Thiede; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws Esther (Al) Krause, Harold (Teri) Bulgrin, Erv (Marguerite) Bulgrin, Evelyn (Frank) Schafer, Harvey (Vi) Bulgrin, Ruth (Lauren) Williamson and Bob (Carol) Bulgrin. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, 11:00am at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grafton. Viewing and visitation will be at 10:00am until the time of service. Burial will be in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials to St. Paul Lutheran Church.