Dorothy M. Poull

Dorothy M. Poull, age 88, of Port Washington, Wis., died Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at Aurora Health Center in Grafton, Wis.

She was born on July 19, 1935, to Raymond and Virginia Konrad Diedrich in Random Lake, Wis.

Dorothy attended St. Mary’s parochial school and graduated from Random Lake High School.

For many years, Dorothy worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at the former St. Alphonsus Hospital in Port Washington.

On Aug. 20, 1955, Dorothy married James J. “Jim” Poull at St. Mary’s Church in Random Lake. While raising her family, Dorothy still worked at the hospital and at the family business, Poull Hardware on Franklin Street in downtown Port Washington. Together with her children they would operate the store until her retirement in 1998.

Over the years, Dorothy also continued working as a CNA at Heritage Nursing Home and Rehabilitation and the Harbor Club in Port Washington — people and memories she truly loved.

Dorothy and Jim along with other local families founded the Ozaukee County Chapter of Retarded Children (OCCRC), Ulao School and Portal Industries of Grafton to provide opportunities for children like their daughter Beth.

Family and friends were always dear to Dorothy. Camping and vacations in Crivitz and drives south were priceless to her heart and soul. She was blessed with the friendship of Jim and Lanielle, John and Chuck and Millie, among others up north.

Dorothy is survived by her children John, James Jr. (the late Maria), Suzette and Jeffrey Poull and Michele (the late Michael) Biddle, all of Port Washington; nine grandchildren, Raymond (Kelly), Andrea (Ryan), Jason, Darcy, Josh, Amanda, Adam, Andrew (Kimmy) and Brian; 10 great-grandchildren, Adina, Arianna, Dakota, Layla, Cyrus, James, Hayden, Emory, Mackenzie and Madelyn; her sisters  Mary (George) Graff of Rock Hill, S.C., Sharon (Roger) Karrels of Port Washington and Maggie Diedrich of Tempe, Ariz.; brother Dick (Nancy) Diedrich; and sister-in-law Dorothy Diedrich, both of Plymouth, Wis., many nieces and nephews of whom she felt blessed and special; other relatives; and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of more than 65 years, Jim, who passed away on April 21, 2020, her daughter Elizabeth “Beth” Poull, her daughter-in-law Maria Poull, her son-in-law Michael Biddle, her parents Raymond and Virginia Diedrich, Jim’s parents Clarence “Jigger” and Betty Poull, her brothers Lance Cpl. Robert, Raymond, Jr., and Michael, James and Donald Diedrich, as well as dear friends Ed “Jr.” and Betty Johnson, Rick Johnson and Lanielle Dierringer.

Funeral services will take place in spring 2024.

Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Washington.

Memorials to the Wisconsin Humane Society Saukville Campus or St. Jude’s Hospital are appreciated.

Poole Funeral Home/Crematory, Port Washington, Wis., is assisting the family.

Information and condolences are available at www.poolefh.com or (262) 284-4431.