Dorothy C. Dyken, 75


Dorothy Catherine Dyken (nee Breit), 75, died Jan. 6, 2011, at her residence.

Born to John and Agatha Breit (nee Wiedmeyer) on Nov. 28, 1935, in the town of Farmington. She married Richard C. Dyken on June 1, 1957. They lived in Ozaukee County for 45 years, most of them in Saukville, where they raised their family of eight children. After the death of her husband, she lived in West Bend for seven years. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Dorothy taught high school social studies for five years at West Bend High School. Her passion for helping those in need led her to volunteer at the COPE Crisis Line of Ozaukee County as a phone counselor. She went on to be the executive director of that organization for 18 years, touching the lives of thousands of people with her loving, compassionate heart, while expanding the size and scope of the operation. A longtime community activist, she was a CCD teacher and parish council member at Immaculate Conception church in Saukville in the 1960s and 1970s. During that time she also served on the Saukville Library Board and the Parks and Recreation Board. She was instrumental in changing the Port Washington City School District to the Port Washington/ Saukville Unified School District with area representation. She served on that board for 23 years, from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, including six years as president. She was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Vocational Education and served on the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board for five years in the early 1990s. She ran for a State Assembly seat in 1984. She was serving as president of the condo association where she lived in Trenton. Despite her many community activities and accomplishments, she was proudest of her family and spent most of her adult life as a homemaker and stay-at-home mom. All who knew her were touched by her kindness and warm loving presence.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Mark (Laura), Carl (Somer Moon), Anne, Gary (Linda), Julie (Joe Normann), Leon, Greg (Candice Wong) and Eric (Katie McCormick); grandchildren, Peta Dyken, Kiri Dyken, Suneca Gonzales, Silas Dyken, Rose Dyken, Emily Selle, Sam Selle, Sylvan Dyken, Isaiah Dyken, Hopi Dyken, Shana McGee, Kyle McGee, Sarah Fellion and Sierra Lawson; great-grandchildren, Benjamin Dyken, Isabella Fedalizo, Solomon Dyken, Skylar Gregory, Zarah Gonzales and Kai Gonzales, and one on the way; siblings, Richard Breit, Roger Breit and Daniel Breit, Rosey Phoenix and Sandy Hansen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband. Richard; her brother. John Breit Jr.; and sisters. Joanne Kofler, Agnes Fellenz and Mary Ann Lecher; and her grandson, Adom Dyken.

A memorial remembrance for Dorothy will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10, at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel of West Bend. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Monday, Jan, 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers or gifts the family requests donations be made to COPE or a local medical clinic.

The Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family. www.phillipfuneralhome.com.