Peter Dohr

Madison—Peter R. Dohr, age 87, died on August 10, 2022. He leaves Joy, his soulmate of 58 years and his dear children, Deborah and Paul Siciliano, Julie Dohr, and Ray and Amy Dohr. He always told his eight grandchildren: Paul, Maria, and Joseph Siciliano, John, Alexis and Patrick Podlesnik, and Peter and Nicholas Dohr that he loved them more than life and they were his lucky number eight.

Peter valued 8 because he was born on 8/8/3+5=8 (August 8,1935) to Raymond Peter and Christine (Oudenhoven) Dohr in Appleton, Wi. and was the oldest of six children. He cherished his brothers William (Bernadette), James (Jill), Thomas (Jeannie) and two sisters, Cornelia (Ronald) Hoglund and Laurie (Thomas) Flood, as well as Joy’s sister Beverly (Tom) Alfredson and brother Jay (Joan) Hook, and the wonderful nieces and nephews and cousins who added support and fun to him throughout life. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Cornelia and brother-in-law Ron and his brother Jim.

Peter enjoyed a wide and deep legacy of friendships and contributions to his faith community, his legal profession, the community of Madison and places of Long Lake in Waushara County and Snowmass, Colorado.  All fed his genuine love of the people, institutions, water, land and mountains.  His many interests and activities make one wonder where he found the creative intelligence, energy and expectations for their pursuit.  He prized his education at Lawrence University (class of 1957) and the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1964.  He felt privileged to be the first law clerk to Justice Nathan Heffernan of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and be Assistant to Madison Mayor Dyke (1969-70). In 1971, he joined Ross & Stevens Law Firm, now Dewitt Law Firm, always appreciating his terrific partners, assistant Julie and wonderful clients. He always said that he grew as a person through his professional and community service such as the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, Board of Professional Responsibility, The Wisconsin State Elections Board, the Kiwanis Club and Foundation, in addition to being President of the Madison Art Center (MMoCA) and on the boards of Madison Opera and Gathering Waters.

Peter was forever an outdoor sports enthusiast. He simply loved to downhill and cross-country ski and had many students. He challenged himself, family and friends in climbing “fourteener mountains” and canoeing in the Boundary Waters. He started and supported the Long Lake Yacht Club, sailing M16 and MC sailboats for 50+ years.  He loved experiencing sensitive and unique outdoor environments as hiking in Pakistan and Nepal. He felt responsible for taking care of and conserving the woods and prairies of Waushara County and was chided by family when he’d skip doing dishes to go trim the white pines that all had planted. The monthly sharing of books with his Book Club was core to his intellectual happiness, as was his commitment to spiritual study and service with Small Faith and Bible Study groups and serving as Lector at Our Lady Queen of Peace.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022 at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison.  Friends may greet family at the church from 10 am. until the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Peter R. Dohr Endowed Scholarship at Lawrence University, Gathering Waters ( https://gatheringwaters.org/donate-today ), the Catholic Multicultural Center  ( https://cmcmadison.org/donate/ ),  or a charity of your choice.

The family expresses deepest appreciation to the staff at Ingleside Manor in Mt. Horeb and Agrace Hospicecare who cared for Peter these end days providing him comfort.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service Speedway

608-238-3434