Dorothy Marie Durben Peplinski passed away on January 13, 2026. She was born to Adam and Mary Ecker Durben March 30, 1924, in the midst of a large snowstorm in a farmhouse west of Stockbridge, WI.  Upon the death of Dorothy's father in 1928 her mother with three little girls moved to her parents' farm home south of Stockbridge.

Dorothy was home schooled, attended Marquette School, St. Mary's Stockbridge and Chilton High School.  After graduation in 1941, she went on to Oshkosh State Teachers College where she majored in history and broad field social science (government).  Upon graduation in 1945 with a B.S. degree, Principal Frank X. Joswick hired her to teach history and citizenship at Pulaski High School.  She also coached forensics at the high school.  She was dedicated to her students and was a positive influence on their lives.  She loved teaching and helped her students to develop useful skills.

At an early age she learned to use her mother's sewing machine so that sewing and reading became her favorite things to do.  With her first paycheck she bought a used Singer sewing machine which she used for the rest of her life.  When she was in college and needed a formal dress but did not have access to a sewing machine, she sewed the dress by hand.

On August 6, 1946 she married Norbert J. Peplinski at St. Mary's Church Stockbridge, WI.  They were devoted parents whose children and grandchildren Dorothy considered their greatest accomplishment.  They both loved to travel, often with their children, to many different states especially to California, Wyoming and New Mexico.  Overseas travel was to Hawaii, Spain, England, Scotland and Switzerland.  In 1996 they established the Peplinski Scholarship Fund for Pulaski High School graduating seniors.

As a member of Assumption BVM parish Dorothy was a longtime very active member of the Christian Mothers Society and the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.  She taught religion classes.  Vicariate V elected her to two terms on the Diocesan Board of Education.  She was a member of the Parish Council.

Dorothy volunteered at the Senior Center by delivering Meals on Wheels and by driving people to their doctor's appointments.  She served as secretary with PACE (Pulaski Area Community Education) council.  She was treasurer for two three-year terms on the Board of Family Services Association of Brown County, Inc.  She was a member of the Youth Home Board of Brown County working to establish a facility for juvenile offenders, in order to keep them out of adult jail.

In 1999 after the Serbian Bosnian war a number of Bosnian refugees came to the U.S.  The Green Bay Diocese volunteered to take some of them.  When Assumption BVM parish council voted to take a family of Bosnian refugees, Dorothy was one of the leaders of the community group which settled the family in Pulaski.  They now live in Rochester, MN.  It was a very satisfying experience.

She belonged to the Pulaski Area Historical Society and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She followed all high school activities especially the BAND and sports, UW-Madison basketball and football, the Packers and their opponents.  Political news was especially important to her.  For over 60 years she played bridge with the Tuesday Evening Bridge Club and the Pulaski Bridge Marathon.

Many happy hours were spent with four friends tying quilts, first using borrowed frames and then she inherited a 100 year old frame.  The grandchildren especially loved their flannel quilts made by Grandma.  She also liked to crochet afghans.

Survivors include her children Carol Harkness, Steve (Polly) Peplinski, Ruth Poole, Chuck (Cynthia) Peplinski, Will (Dr. Peter Wong) Peplinski; grandchildren Jill (Richard) Diamond, Katie (Irving) Coffin, Geoff (Katie) Poole, Jeremy and Joseph Peplinski; great-grandchildren Lila, Hailey, Samantha and Max; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Norbert, son Tom, two sisters, Bernice Olk and Bernadette Bittner, two brothers in law, two sons-in-law, John Harkness and Bill Poole and niece Betsy Borchart.

Friends are invited to gather with family at Assumption B.V.M. Church, 119 E. Pulaski St., Pulaski, on Saturday, January 17, from 9-11 a.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. with Fr. Kevin Ripley presiding. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the parish Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Assumption-BVM-St-Stanislaus-St-Casimir-Parish-Family-89119956934

Memorial donations in honor of Dorothy may be made to the Pulaski Education Foundation or the Pulaski Area Historical Society.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of Country Villa Assisted Living and to Saint Croix Hospice who provided Dorothy with care at the end of her life.

Online condolences may be offered to Dorothy's family at www.marnochafuneralhome.com or on the Marnocha Funeral Home Facebook page.