Dolores “Dee” Joan (Cook) Nolechek, 93, passed away peacefully in her bright, homey apartment at Country Terrace Assisted Living in Stanley, WI, with family by her side, leaving behind cherished memories that will forever warm our hearts. 

     Dolores was born on December 18, 1929, in Rhinelander, WI to Paul John Cook and Vina Mary (Plankey) Cook. She was the oldest of 8 children allowing her to develop qualities that defined much of her life: resilience, strong work ethic, humor, courage and unwavering love for family. 

     After graduating from Rhinelander high school Dolores worked as a hostess in a cafe in Milwaukee, WI, where she met her true love, William “Bill” Nolechek, the manager of the cafe. They soon married on November 13, 1954 and were married for 47 years before the passing of Bill. Together they resided in Thorp, WI, where they raised a large family of 7 children. The household grew to carry a loud and demonstrative tone filled with hugs and affection on a regular basis. Dolores took great care of her home both inside and out. She loved her home and had an eye for design creating a beautiful atmosphere for her family. At the same, time she enjoyed working outdoors.

     Dolores was active in the family business, Nolechek’s Meats, where she was responsible for the bookkeeping and payroll for years. She was renowned for being an amazing cook and would take any end piece of meat Bill brought home from the Locker Plant and with it create a gourmet meal! She was so very fond of plants and flowers and passed on her green thumb to several of her children. Cross stitch was a favorite pastime for Dolores and she spent hours creating Christmas stockings, wall art, and so many of these heirlooms her family will forever hold dear. For a time, she made her own wine and loved to cheer on the Green Bay Packers and the Thorp Cardinals! She enjoyed playing bridge with her lady friends over the decades. She was a great and passionate winner but not so passionate when it came to losing.

     Dolores was dedicated to making lasting family memories involving hours of rigorous packing (and unpacking) for summer weekend trips to Lake Holcombe and Lake Superior in Bayfield, WI. She and Bill even dared to take a road trip with the entire family to Albuquerque, NM in their Ford station wagon with pop-up camper in tow! She was brave, indeed.

     Dolores will always be remembered by her great sense of humor! Her intrinsic comic quality refreshed those around her and certainly promoted the longevity of her own life. “A merry heart does good like medicine.” Many moments of humor and joy will forever live on in the ones she loved. Her children can recall in the years past when they might have asked her for something a bit much. She would quickly respond, pointing her finger, “I have 3 words for you! ‘For, get, it’”! Yes, she managed the household well allowing for her light-hearted humor to keep the family smiling.

     Dolores loved the Lord and was a member of the St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church for many years. She is survived by her children: Molly (Otis) Bergeron of Fairview, TN, Christine Dietrich of Thorp, WI, Jennifer (Tom) Meckley of Conrath, WI, Bill Nolechek of Thorp, WI, Mary (Stanley) Lis of Thorp, WI, Nancy (Gerry) Gardner of Austin, Texas, Kelly (Laurie) Nolechek of Thorp, WI, along with 17 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. She is survived by her sisters, Diane Statz of Fort Atkinson, WI, Patricia “Pat” Perlberg of Rhinelander, WI, Paula Cook of  Broomfield, CO, Stephanie (Tom) Dalka of Rhinelander, WI, and sister-in-law Barbara (Richard) Cook of Rhinelander, WI.

     Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bill Nolechek, her daughter, Tracy Nolechek, her daughter-in-law, Barbara Nolechek, her son-in-law, Michael Dietrich, her grandson, Travis Dietrich, her great granddaughter, Rylee Kuhlman, and her brother, Richard “Dick” Cook, and sisters Carol Osterman and Judy Martin.

     In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Dolores’s honor to St. Croix Hospice of Chippewa Falls, WI; www.hospicesupportfoundation.org/donate/ or if you prefer to donate by check, please make checks payable to:  Hospice Support Foundation.

     Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp, with Rev. Stanley Michael Antony officiating.  Burial will follow in St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday, from 9am until time of service.