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Dorothy M. Schwenkner, 86, of Janesville passed away Sunday at her home surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy was born in Loves Park, IL on May 5, 1925, the daughter of John and Jennie (Forsberg) Soderberg. She graduated from Janesville High School. She married Wayne A. Schwenkner on March 18, 1949 in Beloit. He preceded her in death on September 5, 1991. Dorothy was employed by Fairbanks-Morse during World War II, as a teacher’s aid by the Janesville School System and as a secretary in the Beloit College Alumni office. She was a member of the Wisconsin Regional Writers having served as a board member for many years. She was a founding member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets as well as the Janesville-Beloit Area Writers Club. As a writer and poet, she was published over the years in the Milwaukee Journal Green Sheet, Janesville Gazette , Country Woman Magazine and was a part of the “Anthology of Poets” book. Dorothy was a member of the Blackhawk Homemakers, First Lutheran Church and its Priscilla Circle.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Kris (Tom) Homstad of Janesville, Julie Cousin of Albany, WI, Nancy (partner – Helen Robinzine) Schwenkner of Janesville, a daughter-in-law, Karen Schwenkner of Elm Grove, WI, 1 grandson, Patrick Schwenkner of Elm Grove, an honorary granddaughter, Amanda Guse of Janesville, 1 sister, Marian Crawford of Rockford, IL. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, John Schwenkner, son-in-law, Joe Cousin, 4 brothers, Guy, Ray, George and Roy Soderberg, a sister, Ethel Blomquist, special friends, Doris Edwards, Eleanor Richardson, Du Wayne Sheldon and the Kowalski family.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 23, 2011 at First Lutheran Church, 612 N. Randall Avenue, Janesville. Pastor Naomi Garber will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22^nd at Henke-Clarson Funeral Home, 1010 N. Wright rd., Janesville and at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday. A special thanks to Hospice Care Inc. and to Pastor Naomi. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church or Lutherdale Bible Camp. Assisting the family is Henke-Clarson Funeral Home. www.henkeclarson.com

In these last four years,

We’ve shed many tears.

Thankful for happier times

filled with her creative rhymes.

And when all is said and done

Our mom’s still the “Amusen One”

That was on her license plate, and

Now that she’s at heaven’s gate

Seems more humor just can’t wait.

For comic relief, it’s never too late.

She’s given us one more laugh

by her choice epitaph.

Since her writer’s days

She’s liked this phrase,

She wants the quote:

“That’s all she wrote!”

Dorothy M. Schwenkner, 86, of Janesville passed away Sunday at her home surrounded by her loving family. Dorothy was born in Loves Park, IL on May 5, 1925, the daughter of John and Jennie (Forsberg) Soderberg. She graduated from Janesville High School. She married Wayne A. Schwenkner on March 18, 1949 in Beloit. He preceded her in death on September 5, 1991. Dorothy was employed by Fairbanks-Morse during World War II, as a teacher’s aid by the Janesville School System and as a secretary in the Beloit College Alumni office. She was a member of the Wisconsin Regional Writers having served as a board member for many years. She was a founding member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets as well as the Janesville-Beloit Area Writers Club. As a writer and poet, she was published over the years in the Milwaukee Journal Green Sheet, Janesville Gazette , Country Woman Magazine and was a part of the “Anthology of Poets” book. Dorothy was a member of the Blackhawk Homemakers, First Lutheran Church and its Priscilla Circle.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Kris (Tom) Homstad of Janesville, Julie Cousin of Albany, WI, Nancy (partner – Helen Robinzine) Schwenkner of Janesville, a daughter-in-law, Karen Schwenkner of Elm Grove, WI, 1 grandson, Patrick Schwenkner of Elm Grove, an honorary granddaughter, Amanda Guse of Janesville, 1 sister, Marian Crawford of Rockford, IL. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, John Schwenkner, son-in-law, Joe Cousin, 4 brothers, Guy, Ray, George and Roy Soderberg, a sister, Ethel Blomquist, special friends, Doris Edwards, Eleanor Richardson, Du Wayne Sheldon and the Kowalski family.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 23, 2011 at First Lutheran Church, 612 N. Randall Avenue, Janesville. Pastor Naomi Garber will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22^nd at Henke-Clarson Funeral Home, 1010 N. Wright rd., Janesville and at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday. A special thanks to Hospice Care Inc. and to Pastor Naomi. Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church or Lutherdale Bible Camp. Assisting the family is Henke-Clarson Funeral Home. www.henkeclarson.com

In these last four years,

We’ve shed many tears.

Thankful for happier times

filled with her creative rhymes.

And when all is said and done

Our mom’s still the “Amusen One”

That was on her license plate, and

Now that she’s at heaven’s gate

Seems more humor just can’t wait.

For comic relief, it’s never too late.

She’s given us one more laugh

by her choice epitaph.

Since her writer’s days

She’s liked this phrase,

She wants the quote:

“That’s all she wrote!”