Dorothy Marie Denison
June 22, 2012

Dorothy Marie Denison, 89, a resident of Hallmark Care Center in Mount Vernon, formerly of Lisbon, died Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at the care center following an extended illness.

Services were Thursday, June 14, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial was in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Cedar Memorial celebrant Julie Freese officiated.

Survivors include her son, Robert (Judy) Denison of Weston, Wis., and son-in-law, Dennis Ortgies of Monticello; grandchildren, Dean (Lanita) Ortgies of Eagle, Neb., Julie (Mark) Coder of Dubuque, Sara Denison of Edina, Minn., and David (Nicole) Denison of Austin, Texas; great-grandchildren Natalie (Billy) Witthuhn, Nicholas Novotny, Whitney and Addison Ortgies, Alexis (Charlie) Caruso, Claudio Ordonez, and Abigail and Zachary Denison; and six great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Gladys Wright (originally of Wyoming), sister-in-law Shirley Wright of Wyoming, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Denison; her daughter, Judie Ortgies; siblings, Mildred (Clarence) Luckstedt, Louis Wright, Raymond (Bella) Wright and Donald Wright; niece, Betty Wahlstrom; and nephew, Terry Zuber.

Dorothy, the daughter of Willard and Sarah Wright, was born July 17, 1922, near Toddville. She attended a country school near Olin. She met the love of her life, Walter Denison of Olin, and they were married on Oct. 22, 1942. They farmed near Amber and Wyoming until 1964, when they moved to Lisbon. Dorothy taught Sunday school and was a 4-H leader. She completed classes at Kirkwood Community College and worked at Collins Radio for nearly 25 years.

Dorothy enjoyed playing bluegrass music with friends, traveling, doing yard work, and caring for her five cats.

The family wishes to extend their thanks to Dr. Steven Young, all of the staff at the Hallmark Care Center and Mercy Hospice for the loving care they provided Dorothy. In the nine months Dorothy spent at Hallmark, she came to love her Hallmark "girls" (and Adam). A big thank you goes out to her friends, Ray and Karen, and her special neighbor, Dan, who provided her much support over the years.

Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Courageous (Monticello) or Friends of the Animals (Tipton).