Dec. 28, 1933 – Aug. 17, 2010


Doris Rowlands, age 76, of Waukesha, passed away peacefully Aug. 17, 2010, at Waukesha Memorial Hospital.

She was born in Waukesha on Dec. 28, 1933, to Leslie E. (Bud) and Ruth (nee Williams) Olin. She was a 1951 graduate of Decatur High School in Illinois. Doris was a registered nurse who graduated from the Decatur-Macon County School of Nursing. She worked for many years in the operating room and kept in touch with the "operating room gang" and obstetrics ward at Waukesha Memorial Hospital, retiring in 1997, and later, Avalon Manor. In the 1970s, she was the first female member of the Kettle Moraine School Board from 1969 until 1976. She has been a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church since 1979. Doris loved to cook, travel, do crossword puzzles and calligraphy, read, and dance. She loved to entertain and prepare delicious meals, and there was always music in her home.

She was the beloved mother of Robin Rowlands (Peter Weh) of Albuquerque, N.M., and Leigha Rowlands (Michael) Schatzman of Menomonee Falls; and the cherished grandmother of Jack, Kate, and Claire Schatzman, Amy Hunkins, and Spencer Rowlands. She was mother-in-law to Patricia (Jim) Lawson and Roxanne Rowlands and also loved by many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her sons, Scott Rowlands and Bill Rowlands.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 200 Richard St. Waukesha. A reception will follow the service from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the church. Private burial will be held for the immediate family in Tabernacle Cemetery in the town of Delafield.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tabernacle Cemetery Association. For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 547-4035, or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com to leave an online tribute.