Doreen Ione Steensrud, age 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at Skaalen's Heritage Center Assisted Living in Stoughton, WI with family by her side. She was born June 21, 1939 in Madison, the daughter of Donald Steensrud and Inga (Martinson/Steensrud) Thompson. Doreen attended Sandridge Country School, a one-room schoolhouse near Black Earth.  After her mother married Otis Thompson in 1952, Doreen would graduate from Blanchardville High School in 1957.  She would continue her education by attending the Madison Vocational and Adult School of Practical Nursing, graduating in 1958.   Doreen began her career as a geriatric nurse at Lakeview Hospital in Madison. In February of 1963, she entered the U.S. Army Women's Army Corp and was stationed at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. After leaving the service, she worked in private practice and clinics, at times as both nurse and manager, in Hyattsville, MD; Edgerton, WI; and Muncie, IN. She finished her career at the Pendleton Correctional Facility, a state prison in Pendleton, IN, retiring in 2004.

Doreen was top-notch: compassionate, loyal, insightful, and professional. These qualities were reflected in the way she cared for her patients and lived her life. She also loved her family, the Green Bay Packers, the Wisconsin Badgers, playing guitar, country music, and animals (especially her cats, Duffy and Darcy, and Gary and Linda's collies). She enjoyed spending time with high school friends playing euchre and lunch gatherings with her nurse friends.

Doreen is survived by her beloved cat, Darcy; her brother, Gary (Linda) Thompson; her sister, Bev (Matt) Meyer; her nieces and nephews: Phil (Lori) Thompson and Travis Thompson; Mandi Peterson; Tiffany (Randy) Nolden; Eva (Rob) Janowski; Dwight Meyer; many grand-nieces and nephews; "like sons" John Dankowski and Tom Dankowski; and many lifelong friends. She will be missed by all who loved her.

She is preceded in death by her beloved cat, Duffy (2012), beloved dog Tammy; her father Donald Steensrud (1953) and mother Inga Thompson (2009); her stepfather Otis Thompson (1996); paternal grandparents Albert (1952) and Olive (1968) Steensrud; and maternal grandparents John Martinson (1918) and Martha (Martinson) Tollund (1965).

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at the Vermont Lutheran Church, 9886 Vermont Church Rd., Black Earth, WI.  Burial will be in the Vermont Lutheran Church Cemetery.

A visitation will precede the funeral service from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at the Vermont Lutheran Church.

Doreen's family would like to thank Agrace Hospice, especially Elena and Angie; the staff at Heritage Center Assisted Living, especially her caregiver, Amy; and the Stoughton Emergency Room and hospital staff for the kind and loving care they provided Doreen. She liked to inform the nurses and doctors that she had been a nurse, playfully warning them that she was keeping an eye on them.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Agrace HospiceCare, Inc., the Best Friends Animal Society, or the Vermont Lutheran Church.

The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is assisting the family.