Winifred Irene Lovejoy Dahlen

     Winifred Irene Lovejoy Dahlen passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 27, 2018. Love. Joy. Two words that so described our mother and were also her maiden name. Her 93 years were filled with her love of God and her church, love of her family, and the joy found in being able to touch so many people with her zest for life.

     Born Feb. 9, 1925 in Macedon, NY, Winnie was the youngest of 11 children and, with her passing, the last of her generation of Lovejoys. In 1944, she moved to the Midwest to wed Carl Rudolph Dahlen, a Baptist minister. Their marriage lasted 62 years until his death in 2005 and saw many changes including the addition of eight children (their infant son, Timothy Dwight, died at birth), moves throughout the Midwest, and even changes in which denomination of church they were active in!

     Intelligent, creative, engaging, faithful, kind, and a force of nature are all good ways to describe Winnie. She loved music of all kinds, both appreciated and created arts and crafts, loved the creativity found in cooking wonderful food, and thoroughly enjoyed beating anyone and everyone at any of the board games she played! Her love of reading was put to good use when reading to preschoolers as a volunteer with her Door County Homemakers group. She was very proud of being able to share her love of God with generations of children in her 40 years as a Faith Formation teacher in the Stella Maris Parish. She celebrated her love for her family at any occasion possible and created many memories with the holiday traditions she created and passed on.

     Winnie had a unique relationship with each of her 7 children, often saying she intentionally raised each of them to be individuals. She welcomed and loved her daughters-in-law and sons-in-law, her 21 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. She would often tell the story of her priest, talking with her after church, commenting that she had a good family…and her reply was, “I have a GREAT family!” In addition to her human family, Winnie had many furry children as well and Freddie, her companion for the past 7 years, will certainly miss her.

     The loving memories and legacy of Winnie will continue with her children, Margaret (Richard) Grabowski, Thomas (Mardelle) Dahlen, Charles (Lynne) Dahlen, Juliana (Gary) Kannenberg, Brian (Suzanne) Dahlen, James (Rebecca) Dahlen, and Helen Lovejoy.

     She has now been reunited her parents; sisters and brother; husband, Carl; son, Timothy, and granddaughter, Jenny. 

     Winnie’s life will be honored with a Mass of Christian Burial held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 4, 2018 at Stella Maris Parish-Egg Harbor site with Fr. David Ruby as celebrant. She will be laid to rest in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, beside her husband, Carl.

     Visitation for family and friends will be held at the church, Monday morning, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:50 a.m.

     Memorials may be given in Winifred’s name to Stella Maris Parish or St. Croix Hospice.

     Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay is assisting the Dahlen family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Winifred may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

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