Obit: Resong, Dorothy Ann (1942 - 2006)

Contact:  Shari Hahn

Surnames: Resong, Langreck, Phillips, Zickert, Murphy, Czarnecki, Sands, Peterson, Nikl, Seelow, Bushman, Karl, Miehak, Flynn, Marshall

----Sources: Marshfield News-Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.)July 7, 2006

Resong, Dorothy Aann (16 Dec. 1942 - 5 July 2005)

NEILLSVILLE -- Dorothy Resong, age 63, of Neillsville, died July 5, 2006, surrounded by her loving family at The House of the Dove in Marshfield, following a 15-month battle with brain cancer.

Dorothy Ann Resong was born Dec. 16, 1942, in Neillsville, to Donald and Dorothy (Langreck) Phillips. She attended Neillsville schools and later moved to the Chicago area where she worked for several years for Avon and also Fannie May Candies.

Dorothy returned to Neillsville to raise her family and held numerous jobs in the area, including owning and operating the Merchants Hotel/Sundowner Bar, driving school bus for the School District of Neillsville, owning and operating the Tannery, selling real estate for Century 21 and finally working at the Clark County Dept. of Social Services. Dorothy was also very involved with the Neillsville community including serving as third ward alderman for the city of Neillsville, Wis. Within this position she served on several committees including the police and fire commission, of which she was chairperson, the planning committee, property committee and library committee.

She was a member of the Haugen-Richmond American Legion Post 73 Auxiliary. Dorothy had a great love for the outdoors and especially enjoyed events with her family and working in her beautiful gardens. She loved socializing and just recently took up the sport of ice fishing with her husband. She also enjoyed walking with her dogs, Cody and Cole, canoeing, golfing and ATV riding.

Dorothy is survived by her loving husband, James; three children, Kevin (Judy) Zickert, Kellie Murphy (Neil Czarnecki) and Ryan Murphy; and her mother, Dorothy (Harold) Langreck, all of Neillsville, Wis. She is further survived by her mother-in-law, Marie Resong of Neillsville; brother-in-law, Ronald Resong of Neillsville; sister-in-law, Mary Anne (Randall) Sands of Prescott; three step daughters, Lisa (Kirt) Murphy of Fountain Hills, Ariz., Kim (Todd) Peterson of River Falls and Tina (Mitch) Nikl of Chicago City, Minn. She is also survived by two grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.

As a long time resident of Neillsville, Dorothy will be sadly missed by her family and friends. Dorothy battled brain cancer until her death and spent the last 15 months traveling to and from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where she participated in several clinical trials. Her hope was to find a cure or at least "help someone else out" who is diagnosed.

Funeral services for Dorothy will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 8, 2006, at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville, Wis. Pastor James Mohr will officiate. Music will be provided by Deon Spangler, organist, and Corrine Armitage, soloist.

Casket Bearers are: Duane Seelow, Steve Bushman, Butch Karl, John Meihak, Gary Meihak, Dave Flynn and Larry Marshall.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and also at 10 a.m. Saturday before the service at the church.

Prior to her death, Dorothy requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society or House of Dove Hospice. She was genuinely grateful for everyone's prayers, support and love during her illness.