Dorothy J. Fifarek

Dorothy J. (Hanson) Fifarek, 92, of Marinette, passed away Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, surrounded by family.

Born June 21, 1930, to Lawrence and Emma Hanson, she was a lifelong Marinette resident and graduated from Marinette High School in 1948. In 1949, she met the love of her life, John “Jack” Fifarek, they married and had three children.

When younger, she was a lifeguard at Red Arrow Beach in Marinette and after graduation she worked at Rydahl’s until completing training as a Nurses Aide. She then worked in the nursery at Marinette General Hospital from 1954 until retiring in 1968.

Later she worked part-time for Paczkowski Chiropractic in Menominee until 1973 when she left to provide childcare for her grandchildren. After they grew up, her devotion to family led her to care for grand-nephews and grand-nieces and eventually great-grandchildren. She may have spoiled them all, but taught them how to love, share and the true meaning of strong family bonds.

She enjoyed playing cards with her sisters and brothers-in-law and loved Scrabble games, often acting out the words she was playing and it was never a dull game! She loved family get togethers for birthdays, holidays or any reason. She was beautiful on the inside and outside and all that knew her loved her.

She is survived by a daughter, Catherine Urbanek of Marinette; a son, James (Anita) Fifarek of Menominee; a grandson; a granddaughter; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marge Burns of Marinette and Shirley (Don) Hubert of Menominee and many nieces; nephews and cousins.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John “Jack” Fifarek; a son, Stephen Fifarek; a grandson, Scot Fifarek; a sister, Lorraine Mechalson; a brother, Robert Hanson; two brothers-in-law, Roger Burns and Kenneth “Buzz” Mechalson; a sister-in-law, Nancy Hanson (Staal) and a nephew, Ralph Mechalson.

Visitation will be at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Marinette on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 11 a.m. until time of funeral services at 1 p.m., with Vicar Katy Tomlanovich officiating. Burial will be next to her husband at Forest Home Cemetery in Marinette. Hansen Onion Martell Funeral Home of Marinette is assisting the family.