Dorothy L. Schalk passed away on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at Shorelight Memory Care. She was born in Racine, Wisconsin on June 26, 1927, and was the daughter of the late Sigmund and Elizabeth (nee Bergsland) Solheim.
Dorothy was a 1945 graduate of Park High School. After high school, she attended Augsburg College and graduated in 1949 majoring in business education. She furthered her education by getting a Master Degree in Business Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1960. She taught high school in Minnesota for several years before moving to the Chicago area and teaching at Maine East and Maine West High School where she met fellow teacher and future naval officer Bill Schalk. On December 22, 1966, they were united in marriage. For the next 20 years they traveled with the Navy and lived in Brunswick, GA; San Diego; Elgin, Scotland; Norfolk and Washington, D.C.
Dorothy returned to Racine in 1986 and spent 25 years as a substitute teacher in Racine Unified. She loved teaching and enjoyed working with her students. She was a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church, presently known as United Lutheran Church. Her love of Christ permeated her life. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, served as secretary on the church council, and worked in the church kitchen.
Dorothy was also very athletic. She enjoyed skiing, golfing, softball, and tennis. She even pitched a no-hitter in a women’s softball league.
She will be dearly missed by her loving husband of 51 years, Bill; brother-in-law, Stanford Nelson of Andover, MN; niece, Cheryl (nee Nelson) King (Richard) of Eden Prairie, MN; nephews, Steve Nelson (Angie) of Middleboro, MA, and David Nelson (Maureen) of Channessen, MN, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to her parents she also was preceded in death by her sister, Marcella Nelson and her brother, Russell G. Solheim.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at United Lutheran Church, 3825 Erie St. with Reverend John Bischoff officiating. Relatives and friends are welcome to meet with the family on Saturday at 10 a.m. until time of service at the church. Interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials to United Lutheran Church or Kids First Fund are suggested by the family.
A special thank you to her care givers at Shorelight Memory Care and Hospice Alliance for their loving and compassionate care.