Nancy Jean Dahlke

Nancy Jean Dahlke, 81 passed away peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2025, at her home.  Born on September 30, 1944, in Baraboo, Nancy dedicated her life to creating a warm and nurturing home for her husband of 48 years, Gordon (Gordy) and their five children.

Nancy’s greatest joy came from spending time with her family and fostering a loving environment.  Her homemade entrées and dessert dishes were legendary in her household.  Many were eagerly anticipated (some not so much) by family and friends alike.  Some of those dishes made their way into local restaurants where she later worked as a kitchen prep artist and cook.  Although being a wife and mom was job one according to her, she later started working part time on weekends to help earn some extra money.  She officially started her culinary career, if you will, at the Nu-Vee restaurant in Merrimac as a prep person and cook.   It wasn’t long after that, she found her calling and started working at the Old Schoolhouse Restaurant where she filled those same roles and anything else that needed to be taken care of.  After many years there, she decided to move to another restaurant and worked at the Farm Kitchen. 

Later in her career, she worked at the Meat Market in Baraboo, Ray-O-Vac and then Saint Gobain in Portage where she finally retired.  She made hundreds of friends over the years and talked about those friendships and experiences often.  All of these places felt like home to her and she gave nothing less than 100 percent in all of her endeavors.    

Nancy is survived by her four sons, Dennis (Colleen) Dahlke of Prairie du Sac, David (Kati) Dahlke of Baraboo, Danny (Sharon) Dahlke of St. George KS, and Dale (Carolyn) Dahlke of Merrimac; 5 grandchildren, Alysia (John) Carley, Matt (Kayla Bebber) Dahlke, Megan (Javier) Xelhua, Troye Dahlke & Danielle (Zach) Huber; 8 great-grandchildren, Nolan, Emilee, Brooklynn, Wyatt, Jackson, Mia, Nellie and Jazmin; sister, Judy Rau; brother, Jim (Marilyn) Adams; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon; their first son, Thomas, who passed away unexpectedly 3 days after birth in 1962; as well as brother-in-law, Harold “Butch” Rau. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 16, 2026, at St John’s Lutheran Church Baraboo at 11am with Pastor Tim Kuske officiating. Visitation will be held from 10am until the time of service. A private inurnment at Walnut Hill Cemetery will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice in her name.  

In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still, in our hearts you hold a place, that no one could ever fill.