Madison-Lorraine Frances "Willie" Wilke, age 88, passed away peacefully at Sylvan Crossing Assisted Living on Wednesday, March 17, 2015. She was born in Madison on August 12, 1926, the daughter of Robert William and Helen (O'Neill) Wilke.

She graduated from St. Raphael's grade school, then Central High School in 1944, and attended MATC, where she took art and interior design classes. She worked at Manchester's, then started her interior design work with Reggenberg's, and later went to work for Fred L. Statz. She was an antique dealer for most of her life. She started her antique business, Newport Galleries, and later moved into Joys and Trifles with Joyce Hellenbrand. She belonged to National Foresters, Altar Society at St. Raphael's, The Shamrock Club, was an active member of the neighborhood association for the Fourth Ward, and a member of Madison Historical Preservation Society. She was very politically minded, worked at the voting polls and was active in the Democratic Party. She loved, and proudly lived in the downtown Madison area for most of her life. She was proud of her Irish Heritage and traveled to Europe on several occasions including numerous trips to Ireland and Italy. She enjoyed life and had a lot of fun over the years. She was an avid Badger and Brewer's fan.

Lorraine is survived by cousins; special cousins, Walter (Dianne Redsten) Sauer, Jane Sauer, Steve Sauer, Debbie (Dan) Rustick and numerous second cousins; extended family and special friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Sister Robert Mary (Phyllis) Wilke, and brother Robert Wilke, Jr.; and her cousin and best friend, Peggy Sauer.

Thank you to the Sylvan Crossing Assisted Living Staff, the Agrace HospiceCare staff, and Mary Free, her home caregiver.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2015 Parmenter Street, Middleton, with Msgr. Douglas Dushack presiding. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20 at Ryan Funeral Home, 5701 Odana Road and again on Saturday at church from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass.
Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home

Lorraine Wilke

August 12, 1926 - March 17, 2015

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