Obit: Whitney, Doris Jane (1923 - 2007)

Contact:  R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: BAHE, BERGGREN, KELSEY, LAABS, LaFOND, ROBERSEN, WHITNEY

----Sources: The Tribune-Phonograph, Vol. 47, No. 8, Wed., February 14, 2007, p 9

Whitney, Doris Jane (Kelsey) (16 Jul 1923 - 15 Feb 2007)

Doris Jane (Kelsey) Whitney

Doris Whitney, Madison, passed away on Thursday, February 15th, 2007.

Funeral services were held at the Gunderson West Funeral Home, Middleton, on Monday, February 19th, 2007. The Reverend Dr. David J. Berggren presided.

Doris was born on July 16, 1923 in Abbotsford to George A. and Agnes (Robersen) Kelsey.

She attended Abbotsford, Wis. High School where she competed academically and in Music and Forensics. Doris attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for one semester before transferring to Kahler School of Nursing, a Mayo Clinic affiliate in Rochester, MN, to pursue her true love, nursing.

As a registered nurse, she served in several hospitals in Wausau, Madison and Milwaukee. Doris also worked at Lasta Nursing Home in Cedarburg, WI and served as a volunteer for the Hospice program in Naples, FL and Hot springs Village, AR.

Doris married Claude Whitney in December 1946 at Colby. They moved to Badger Village and she worked at Wisconsin General Hospital for three years while her husband was pursing a degree at the UW. On occasion, she felt it necessary to remind him that "she put him through school."

Doris and Claude moved to Milwaukee in 1950 and lived there until 1988. Daughter Gale arrived in1951 and son Brad in 1957. Doris excelled as "super mom" not only at teaching and caring, but serving as Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader when the kids were involved.

She also served as Ozaukee County Chairman of the American Cancer Society. An accomplished seamstress, Doris made clothes, drapes, bedspreads, etc. Doris was an excellent cook and her paintings and needlework adorn the homes of her children.

An outdoor enthusiast, she especially loved the water spending countless hours in Green Bay area waters teaching friends (mainly children) to water ski. Of course, she was very good at it herself.

After retirement, the family maintained homes in Door County and Naples, FL. In 1994 they move to Hot Springs Village, AR which served as home base for their motor-home, in which they explored most of the U.S. In 2005, Doris and Claude moved to Madison.

Married in a Presbyterian Church, she was a member of Presbyterian or Methodist churches in each place they lived.

Doris’ pleasant smile, happy voice and upbeat attitude were an inspiration to all who knew and loved her. She has enriched all or lives. The world is better because she was here.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Claude "Bud" Whitney; a daughter Gale (Garry) Bahe of Merrimac; a son, Brad (Michelle) Whitney of Pueblo, CO; five grandchildren, Nate (Megan) Bahe, Zak Bahe, Josh Bahe, Sarah Whitney and Grant Whitney; as sister Betty LaFond; sisters-in-law, Meredyth Kelsey and Audrey (Bernie) Laabs; and many nieces and nephews.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, George A. and Agnes (Robersen) (Kelsey and a brother Jack Kelsey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Madison, WI 53717.