Dorene H. “Dorrie” Richards

POYNETTE  /  PORTAGE  --  Dorene H. “Dorrie” Richards, age 82, of Poynette, died on Monday, December 29, 2008 at Hospice Care, Inc. in Fitchburg.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2009 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home, 430 W. Wisconsin St., Portage, WI., with Fr. Jim Murphy officiating.  Burial will be on Friday, January 2, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dodgeville, WI.  Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.

Dorene was born on April 28, 1926, the daughter of Edward “Ned” and Anna (Jenkins) Johnston, at their home in Mifflin, Iowa County, Wisconsin.   She was married to Francis Richards on April 20, 1944 in Dodgeville, WI.  Dorene lived in Black River Falls for many years, where she had tended bar, as well as in Poynette. 

She is survived by three sons, Roger (Sue) Richards, McFarland, Daniel Richards, McFarland, and Dennis (Janet) Richards, Portage;  a daughter, Carol Johnson, Fitchburg;  14 grandchildren;  23 great-grandchildren;  a brother, Mel Johnston, Linden;  a sister, Lillian Williams, DeForest;  her special friend, Betty Hill;  many nieces, nephews, and friends.  Dorene was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Kathleen Richards, a son, Edwin Richards, a grandson, James Johnson, and a great-grandson, Nathan Richards.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Care, Inc.