Dorothy Pearl Candlish

Dorothy P. (Klisch) Candlish Beloved matriarch Dorothy Candlish passed away peacefully on May 15, 2019 at her home in Grafton, WI, at the age of 90. She is survived by her children: James (Joan) Klisch, Cheryl (Rick) Zimmermann and Russell (May) Klisch; grandchildren: Rick Jr (Patti), Steve (Jenna), Victoria and Jacqueline; great-grandchildren: Autumn, Marcus, Myles, Breanna, Isaac, and Owen. She is preceded in death by both spouses Joe Klisch and Bob Candlish. Dorothy was born in Milwaukee, WI to the late Frank and the late Helen (nee Kulka) Kaczmarek. She was raised by her mother and her grandparents who lived in Ogema, WI. When her mother remarried a few years later, she was brought back to Milwaukee. She married Joseph Klisch in 1950 and they ran a tavern called the Nightingale in Perkinstown for a few years. When they returned to Milwaukee for Joe’s business, American Metal Spinning, they lived in Brown Deer with their three children. After Joe passed away in 1972, she went to work at Relocation Realty, and then Coldwell Banker. When her sons started Lakefront Brewery in 1987, Dorothy gave them a helping hand with bookkeeping and assorted chores around the brewery. In 1981 she married Bob Candlish, and resided in Fond du Lac and then in Grafton. Bob passed away in 1996 and Dorothy continued to live on her own. Dorothy had always sought to live a life of independence, self determination and self reliance. She treasured growing up on her grandparents’ farm in Ogema and the simple and hardworking life there. Her happiest times were when she cajoled her family and friends with stories of her youthful adventures and painted colorful memories of her carefree childhood. One of her lifelong goals was to show all her grandchildren her childhood farm on Spokes Hill near Tim’s Hill. In 2018, she was ecstatic to be able to do that and to relive those childhood moments. She memorialized her history and memories in a volume she created especially for the family. Just a few weeks before her passing, her children and their spouses took her to Door County to celebrate her 90th birthday, a ritual that had been repeated every five years over the last few decades, sometimes with grandchildren and great grandchildren in tow. While still there this time, she was already in the mindset of planning her 95th birthday. Dorothy lived her life on her terms, and exited the same way. She loved political talk shows, especially watching MSNBC, and was likely doing that while having dinner when she was called away. Her fiercely independent spirit will be missed. A funeral service will be held on Monday, May 20, 2019 at 12 Noon, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Cedarburg. Interment at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Monday, at the funeral home from 10:00 AM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association are appreciated.