Dolores Mary Lake

POYNETTE – Dolores Mary Lake, age 84, passed away on November 20, 2025, in Columbus, Wisconsin.

Dolores was born on May 29, 1941, in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, the daughter of Rudolph and Esther (Pawlak) Prucha. She graduated high school in Waunakee, WI, before working at a meat market, Jack Linscotts, in California, where she learned to design platters of food and cater them to parties.  Dolores and Lucy Riddle ran a free clothing store in Poynette. She worked at Academy Lodge which is a Veterans home and a safe haven for Veterans primarily with AODA and mental illness. Dolores volunteered and worked at St. Vincent De Paul in Columbus and at Lost Lake Acres Greenhouse. Mom modeled for a bit while we lived in California, and would iron clothes for some Hollywood stars.

Mom loved to embroider, make quilts, and sew catnip bags; many times giving them away to people and cats. She was kind, very organized, and loved nature, plants, and animals. Her favorite place we lived was in Newhall, California, where we had two horses, a cow, chickens, rabbits, pheasants, and a pig. Dolores enjoyed cooking for others. Mom loved angels, and was an angel to many people whom she helped along her journey through life and to those making the transition from life to the hereafter. Mom was well known by many people, mostly for being kind and helping others. Her mantra was “Everything happens for a reason”.  Mom purchased a Winnebago camper and drove herself and her dog, Sharina, from Wisconsin out to Sedona, Arizona and California to visit friends, then lived at a campsite in Wisconsin for awhile until settling back down.

Dolores is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Jon) Longfield; former daughter-in-law, Jackie (Falk) Lake; grandchildren, James (Jacki) Longfield, Jon Longfield, Jr., Ryan Lake, and Ashley Lake; great grandsons, Jonny Longfield and Joel Haberman; Joel’s father, Shane Haberman; brother, Jerome Prucha; sister, Barb Jones; and many other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her parents; the father of her children, Robert Lake; her daughter, Crystal Lake; son, Rocky Lake; granddaughter, Alisha Lake; brothers, Rudy, Hank, and Teddy Prucha; and brother-in-law, Bob Jones.

Mom, you set a beautiful example of kindness and service to others.  You were one of a kind and you will be missed.

Services and inurnment in the Hillside Cemetery in Poynette will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family for a memorial fund that has been established in Doe’s name.

Family would like to extend a special thank you to Peggy Knudson for the love and support when we needed her most.

The Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home, in Poynette, is assisting the family. 

Hi, Everybody! “It’s vacation time”. My bags are packed, I’m heading “Home”. See you all when you get there. Until then, take care. I love all of you. Love, Dolores