Doris A. Witmer

Doris Ann Witmer (Theis) died on July 16, 2026, at her home in La Crosse. She was born in Milwaukee, WI on December 24, 1932, to Alvin R. and Irene Theis. Doris graduated from Shawano High School in 1951 and attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Milwaukee, earning a library certificate. She worked on the Shawano County Bookmobile for four years.

In 1955, she married David R. Witmer in Shawano. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter AL and the First Congregational Church, where she held several offices in the Women’s Fellowship. She served on the Board of Service and Worship and the Endowment Committee. She also co-chaired the Advent Workshop and Lenten Fair for several years.

Doris was a former member of the YWCA Board and the WAFER Board.

She is survived by two sons, Mark (Lynne) of Minong, WI, and Jeffrey (Merrilee) of Oberlin, OH, and a daughter, Laura (Bill) of La Crosse, WI, two granddaughters, Alison (Jacob) and Katy (Luke), and two grandsons, Joel and Kyle. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Mason, Anna, Nora, and Reid.

Doris was a kind and generous soul. She was loved by many and will be sorely missed.

Life is a festival on the way to freedom (Bonhoeffer). Death is a transition to another life. Yet I am not really gone. I am I, and you are you in whatever we were to each other. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone – wear no forced air of solemnity nor sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be spoken without affect. Life means all that it ever meant. I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Celebrate!