Priscilla A. Dugenske

God reached out his tender hand and gently pulled her home with him and brushed away the sorrow from her soul within. Now she's dancing in the wind, with her true love again where her heart has always been. Priscilla Dugenske, age 83, passed peacefully on Sunday, June 15, 2025 surrounded by the family she cherished and cared for all her life.

She lived what some might call a simple life-rooted in the farm, guided by faith and devoted to her home. The simple life she led was anything but small. It was rich in love, strong in faith and devoted to family-a legacy that will live on in every song sung, every recipe passed down and every life she touched.

Born the oldest of nine children to Lawrence and Rita Peterson of Abbotsford, WI on July 26, 1941, Priscilla was raised with strong ties to the farm, where faith, family and hard work were pillars of life. After graduating high school, she moved to Ripon, where she worked while living with an aunt. It was a Saturday night dance at the Berlin Eagles Club where she caught the eye of a handsome young farmer who would become her husband. She married Narcis Dugenske on May 4, 1960 in Abbotsford. Together on his grandparents farm outside of Princeton they built a home filled with laughter, hard work and music, along with the chaos of raising a large and loving family.

In their life together, she worked alongside Narcis on the farm—not just raising their children, and making a house a home, but often lending a hand driving tractor or feeding animals. She made it a point to not learn how to milk the cows because she didn't want that to be another daily chore.

A gifted cook and baker, her kitchen was always filled with the comforting aroma of fresh bread, baked goods, and Sunday dinners. Even when she sat to rest, her hands were always busy. She took pleasure in the quiet joys of life: crocheting, sewing, tending her garden, playing piano. An avid lover of Christmas she could often be found filling carts with more trinkets and decorations even though she already had too many. Paired with an abundance of homemade candies, cookies and treats this always brought a special feeling of joy to the holidays. Family could always count on lessons on the art of good a Polka and how to make tunes on the stomper as she tried often to convince them to start a family band. Her pride and joy was her family—she was endlessly selfless when it came to her children, never complaining about doing without so they could have what they needed. She lived her faith daily and gently passed those values on to her children, not just through words but by the example of a generous, steadfast life.

She was an active member of St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Princeton, where she found fellowship and purpose through the Altar Society, the choir, and volunteering at the annual parish picnic. She was a former member of the school board for St. Johns School. As the children grew and began their own lives, a job at Kwik Trip provided additional income for the family, babysitting for neighbors’ children kept the familiar sounds in the house.

Interviewed by a grandson for a homework assignment, she was asked about when she was younger what she dreamed of doing with her life (life). Her reply? “I just want to be a wife and mother. That's all I ever wanted.” A dream fulfilled.

That dream lives on through her 9 children, Mark Dugenske of Marquette, WI, Dale (Christine) Dugenske of Ripon, WI, Dawn (John) Jacobson of MI, Paul Dugenske of Princeton, WI, Lisa (Patrick) Sorensen of Princeton, WI, Lori (David) De Haan of Oakfield, WI, Tami (Eric) Shwonek of WA, Joel (Christin) Dugenske of Princeton, WI, and Gail (Joshua) Gombos of Wautoma, WI.

She was a proud grandmother and great-grandmother to 19 grandchildren, Joshua (Laura) Dugenske, Sean (Bridget) Dugenske, Emily (Stewart) Meek, Jason (Michelle) Jacobson, Erik (Merrin) Jacobson, Zachary Jacobson, Levi Mueller (Jessi Gray), Ariel Mueller, Thorin Sorensen, Stormy Marks, Kaitlyn (Robert) Hefter, Noah De Haan, James Shwonek, Lilli Shwonek, Anastasia Dugenske, Ian Dugenske, Collin Recore, Melanie Recore and Evan Gombos; 20 great-grandchildren, Adilyn, Sawyer, Sienna, Jack, Adalind, Everett, Josephine, Jayme, Sara , Alyssa, Lilah, Molly, Garrett, Gannon, Gattlin, Colt, Emmett, Quinn, Naomi, Stetson and another joining the family in September. She is further survived by four sisters and two brothers, and many nieces, nephews, and relatives.

She has been reunited with her husband of 62 years who left her side in December of 2022. Also preceding her in death were her parents; two brothers, Kenneth and Duane Peterson; in-laws, Frank and Lily Dugenske; sister-in-law, Peggy Barden and her husband Virgil; and a brother-in-law, Dominic Dugenske and his wife Inez. Further preceded by a niece and two nephews.

Visitation for Priscilla will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 125 Church St., Princeton, WI 54968.

Mass of Christian Burial for Priscilla will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Princeton, WI with Msgr. James Gunn officiating. Interment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery.

Her hands may rest, but the life she built remains.