Beverly "Bev" Ann Dobbratz

Beverly Ann Dobbratz (nee Schultz), age 82, passed away at her Randolph home on September 27, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Bev was born April 27, 1943, to her parents, Bernard and Jeanette Schultz (nee Holnagel). She started working at a young age at her mother’s store, Schultz’s Food Market, located in downtown Randolph. Growing up, Dave and Bev were family friends who started dating in high school and were married at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church on September 15, 1962. At the time, Dave was 20 years old, while Bev was 19, and since the groom was required to be 21 years of age to apply for a marriage license, Dave’s mom had to accompany them to the courthouse to give her stamp of approval. She and Dave created a loving home together, building on the lot located between her two childhood homes. Everyone was always welcome. Shortly after the wedding, Bev started working for Jung Seed Co. and then Educator’s Progress Service before embarking on her career in Corrections.

Bev began her time at Fox Lake Correctional Institution in the steno pool and went on to become the secretary to the warden, serving under seven wardens, and earning the distinction of “First Lady of Corrections.” During her time there, she was an integral part of the operations of the warden’s office and formed many bonds and lifelong friendships with her FLCI family. Along with her duties at the institution, she also served on the Fox Lake Chamber of Commerce and later on the Community Relations Board to help support the mission of the Department of Corrections and foster outreach with the local community. During her career, she was named Support Person of the Year and recognized in 2005 by then-Governor Jim Doyle with a Career Achievement Award for her loyal and dedicated service. Bev retired from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in January of 2007 with over 40 years of service.

Volunteerism and community involvement were important to Bev throughout her life, starting with her time teaching Sunday School at Friedens, singing in the church choir, and devoting time to working alongside longtime friends on the Ladies Aid committee. She also served on the Randolph Park Board, taking a special interest in the activities and condition of the park, having lived across the street from the park her whole life. In recent years, she was happy to lend her talents to the efforts to bring a new pool to Randolph and enjoyed watching the progress from her front window after they broke ground earlier this year. She also spent many years working at the polls serving her community on election day. Other favorite activities included planting and taking care of her flowers in the summer, hosting family and friends for occasions such as Labor Day and the Schultz Family Christmas in July, reading, gambling, watching her oldest son Steve race, wintering in Arizona, and attending any and all activities that involved her grandchildren.

Bev is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dave; three children, Steve (Deb) Dobbratz of Rio, Deb (Dan) Siewert of Randolph, Dale (Jenny) Dobbratz of Oregon, and foreign exchange daughter, Pia (Gustavo) León of Cummings, Georgia; eight grandchildren, Bodaniel (Casey) and Dylan (special friend Haley) Siewert, Bailey Dobbratz, Sam and Emma Dobbratz, Brent, Brandon, and Christian DeYoung; and five great-grandchildren, Ryleigh, Zander, Rhett, Aurora, and Odette. Also survived by sisters Charlene Mittelsteadt, Ardis (Carl) Grahn, brothers-in-law Jon (Winky) Dobbratz and Eugene Dobbratz, and other nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant siblings; grandson, Jerad; brother-in-law, Paul Mittelsteadt, and other loved ones greatly missed.

Our family would like to say thank you to all the friends, family, and local community for their prayers and loving support over the past weeks with a very special thank you extended to Agrace Hospice, Epic Care Solutions, and Pastor Anthony Straseske for the compassionate care given to both Bev and the entire family as we came together to care for Bev and experience her transition to eternal life with our Lord and Savior. This isn’t goodbye; it’s just see you later.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church or to the Randolph Community Pool.

A time for reminiscing and storytelling will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, 335 Jones Drive, Randolph, WI 53956 and from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Anthony Straseske officiating. Burial will follow at Randolph Cemetery.