Obituary for Doris Ann Kotek

December 26, 1930 – March 24,2025

Doris Ann Kotek was born on December 26, 1930, at St. Mary's Hospital in Sparta, WI, to Alois and Hedwig Braschler. She was immensely proud to be a first-generation American.

She grew up in Bangor, WI, and attended Bangor Public Schools for 12 years. To celebrate her high school graduation, her mother took her to New York to meet her first relative. Doris continued her education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for two years before transferring to UW-La Crosse, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in elementary education in just 1.5 years.

Doris dedicated many years to teaching and later returned to Bangor as a substitute teacher. She then worked at Farm & Fleet for 20 years. After retiring, she pursued her passion for genealogy, documenting the history of Bangor and quilting, which she began in 1984. Her love for history led her to write multiple books, and she had just completed her third book about Bangor in 2025.

In 1950, Doris met the love of her life, James Kotek, at the Avalon Ballroom. They married on October 20, 1951, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bangor. In 1952, they returned to her family farm, where they raised five children and spent their lives together. Doris lived a full and adventurous 94 years.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James; her parents, Alois and Hedwig Braschler; her in-laws, Frank and Adeline Kotek; her husband’s siblings, Wilfred (Alice) Kotek, Elmer Kotek, and Lillian Kotek; Cletus Kaiser; and her daughter-in-law, Pamela Kotek.

Doris is survived by her children, Jeffrey of Decorah, IA, James Jr. (Carol) of West Salem, WI, Jonathan of West Salem, WI, Jared (Jenny) of Harmony, MN, and Julie of Dallas, TX. She was a loving grandmother to 16 grandchildren: Chrystal (John) Morgan, Sam, Jon (Renee), Janet (Mark), Kortney (Nick) Getter, Elizabeth (Tom) Jostad, Margret, Jason, Carissa, Justina (Brody) Wandling, Jennifer (Kevin) Hinrichs, Bethany, Katryna, Michael, Erica, and Jacob. She was also blessed with 19 great-grandchildren: Levi (Hayley), Madlin, Donovan (Josie), Delaney, Landen, Livia, Kora, Victoria, Connor, Kaylyn, Vera, Jeffrey, Frank, Evan, Jenna, Tristin, Jordan, Macyn, Amelia and Enzo as well as one great-great-grandchild, Aurora. She is further survived by her sister-in-law, Jean Kotek.

Doris’s life was filled with love, learning, adventure, and creativity. Her legacy will live on through the stories she preserved, the quilts she crafted, the antiques she collected, and the family she cherished.

In lieu of Flowers, Memorials are preferred.

A visitation will be held at Fredrickson Funeral Home, Bangor Chapel, HWY 162 and Hattan Street in Bangor, WI on Saturday, March 29, 2025 beginning at 10:00 a.m. and concluding with a rosary at 1:30 p.m. A private family burial will follow in Burn's Cemetery.

Fredrickson Funeral Homes, Bangor Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be offered on this website.