Our dad came on Sunday to bring our mom to Heaven. We are positive they are both happy to be back together. When dad went to Heaven in 2016, they had been married for 68 years. The past two and a half years have been the longest they were ever apart.
Doris Ann Pechacek, age 90 of River Falls WI, died of complications associated with MDS in the early morning hours on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at Wellhaven Senior Living. Her daughter Marilyn and her sister Bernice were by her side, and the surrounding love of family soon followed. Doris was born Sept 24, 1928 at home in rural River Falls to parents Andrew and Beatrice (Johnson) Graetz. Doris attended school at Jerusalem Corners and St. Mary’s Big River before graduating from River Falls High School. Doris would be united in marriage to Darold Dean Herman Pechacek on August 17, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Big River WI. Their union was blessed with six children, and two generations of grandchildren.
Early on, she worked at the O’Brien Café (currently South Fork Cafe) in downtown River Falls for four years. After being married, Doris cared for her family as a farm wife and homemaker. Life on the farm allowed Doris to not only work hard, but to enjoy the love of family, and the simple things in life. Doris also cherished the many years in the St. Bridget’s Choir and the friendships formed there. One of the highlights in her life was embarking on a cruise that was won by her son Allan at a St. Bridget’s raffle, and also traveling to visit relatives. Doris and Darold enjoyed camping with their friends, and later on, with their daughter Sandra’s family.
Doris lived her first 30 years of marriage in Pierce County on the Ted Pechacek farm (that they had bought), and the next 38 years across the road, in St Croix County, after the death of her father-in-law. Her favorite spot was sitting on the deck, watching whatever there was to see. Doris saw so many changes to their farm land over the years, from the highway bypass, to the construction of the hospital and then the ball field. Her transition from her home to Wellhaven was a warm welcome made possible by the caring staff and residents there. The rock in Doris’ front yard was unearthed from the gravesite of her father, and moved to her front yard. The irony of this rock is the many years growing up picking rock with her sisters and dad. Doris’ passing and planned highway changes coming to their old farmland again, this large rock will now be relocated to Wellhaven where her sister resides, in memory of their father, Andrew Graetz.
Thank you God, for giving us our mom; we will never know love like that again.
Doris is survived by her children, Eugene (Linda) Pechacek of Oakdale MN, Constance Orvold of River Falls, Marilyn (Patrick) Simon of River Falls, Terrance (Luanne) Pechacek of River Falls, Sandra (Bob) Iverson of Hastings MN, and Allan (Connie) Pechacek of River Falls; twelve grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren with another on the way; siblings Bernice Stern Deiss of River Falls, Marlene (Bill) Carter of Gainsville FL, and Jeanette Kline of Stillwater MN; numerous in-laws from the Pechacek side of the family. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Darold, and her parents, Andrew and Beatrice Graetz, and son-in-law, Preston Orvold.
Mass of Christian Burial for Doris Ann Pechacek will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, June 19 at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, 211 E. Division Street in River Falls, with Rev. Fr. Jerry Harris officiating. Visitation will be held at the church, beginning at 9:00am. Doris will be laid to rest at St. Bridget’s Catholic Cemetery. Memorials honoring the life of Doris Pechacek are preferred to the discretion of the family. Services have been entrusted to the O’Connell-Benedict Family Funeral Home of River Falls. 715-425-5644
