Dorothy J. Dunne (nee Briggs), of Waukesha, was born to Eternal Life on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at St. Joseph Residence in New London at the age of 96 years. She was born on March 19, 1917 in Monico, WI to Lee and Ruby (nee Greene) Briggs. She attended school in Monico and Rhinelander. She then received her bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics from Oshkosh State College in 1939, during a time when few women received a degree in mathematics. She then followed her love and passion of teaching for forty years. Her last twenty years of teaching mathematics was in Waukesha, a school and city she called home. As Bob Duckett, a fellow teacher at Waukesha High School said Dorothy was one of the best and most outstanding teachers.
Dorothy married Edward P. Dunne in 1948 and they spent 45 years together before his death in 1993. She then married William J. Pankratz in 1995; he preceded her in death in 2000. William’s daughters cherished her and will always be grateful for her caring love and devotion to their father.
Dorothy loved her Catholic faith and church groups she belonged to. She was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Waukesha. She will be missed by all who knew her, especially by family who loved and respected her.
She is survived by her brothers, Paul (Nona) Briggs of Appleton and Robert (Marie) Briggs of Toms River, New Jersey. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews and her stepdaughters Christine (Gary) Meyer of Delafield, Mary (Fred) Hess of Waukesha and Phyllis (Conrad, MD) Andringa of Madison.
A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1:00PM at the St. Joseph Cemetery Chapel S22 W22890 Broadway Avenue, Waukesha. Reverend Howard Haase will preside. Entombment will follow. If desired, memorials in Dorothy’s name are appreciated to St. Mary Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186. Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services is honored to serve the family. For further information, please call the funeral home at 262-547-4035 or visit our website at
www.waukeshafunerals.com
for directions or to leave the family an online tribute message.