Doris Carolyn (Kirchner) Magwitz of Bristol, WI, passed away at Hospice Alliance Hospice House on Sunday morning, September 23, 2018. She was born August 7, 1922, to Ernst and Martha (Hackbarth) Kirchner. She grew up on the family farm in Bristol, attended Woodworth grade school and graduated from Kenosha High School in June 1940. She was baptized on September 3, 1922, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bristol, where she was also confirmed on July 12, 1936. It was at Zion where she met and married Arthur "Spud" Magwitz on June 20, 1943. Spud died on their 55th wedding anniversary, June 20, 1998. Spud and Doris bought Murdock Hardware in 1955 and owned and operated the business as Bristol Hardware – Plumbing & Heating. Doris was known to many as the "Bristol Historian". "Ask Doris, she'll know" was heard often.
Doris organized the Bristol Strivers 4-H Club in 1956. She was Bristol Town Treasurer from 1969-1987. Her volunteer work included 4-H leader projects, Kemper Center, Escort driving and Meals on Wheels. She had been a member of the Zion Ladies Aid, Church choir, Bristol Firemen's Auxiliary, Bristol Mall walkers and Twin Lakes Seniors. She was Outstanding Citizen of Bristol Progress Days in 1976. She received a commemorative brick this past July from the Bristol Fire Department for her volunteer duties as one of the first dispatchers for the department. She enjoyed sewing, knitting and crocheting. She played Mexican Train dominoes, cards and enjoyed putting puzzles together with others at Prairie Ridge apartments where she resided.
Survivors include three children: Betty (Mike) McAlear, of Raleigh, NC, Ruth (Lloyd "Bucky) Radtke and Lloyd (Mary) Magwitz of Bristol; eight grandchildren: Jennifer, Jeff (Meg) and Jessica McAlear, Rebecca Radtke, Ted, Tim, Terry (Jennifer) and Tom (LeeAnn) Magwitz; six great-grandchildren, Nadia and Alexander McAlear, Jordan (Daniel) Ortiz, Vince (Tara) Gabrys and Carlie Gabrys, Gavin, Dean, Arthur and Katherine Magwitz; and two great-great-grandchildren, Kaden and Benjamin Ortiz.
She is also survived by two brothers, Allan (Shirley) Kirchner, Lester (Maria) Kirchner; three sisters, Alice Bailey, Barbara Pringle, Mary Lou (George) Klacan; sisters-in-law Dorothy and Beverly Kirchner; and also, her good friend Franz Meurer.
She was preceded in death by an infant sister Dorothy, brothers Richard and Glenn Kirchner, brother-in-laws Glen Bailey, Roy Pringle and sister-in-law Georgene Kirchner.
A special thank you to Hospice Alliance for the care and compassion they had for our mother and also to Dr. Haider and his staff for their care over the past several years.
Visitation will be held at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 7931 Hwy. 45 in Bristol on Friday, September 28, from 3:00-7:00PM. Visitation on Saturday will be from 9:00-11:00AM prior to the service at 11:00AM with burial at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church or the Bristol Strivers 4-H Club were Doris' request.