Dolores Bertha Mary Lange McKillip of Lancaster, formerly of Platteville, died on Thursday, February 9, 2017 while a resident of Orchard Manor, Lancaster, where she was cared for and loved since 2007. She lived a full and lovely 98 years. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Rev. Richard Leffler will officiate. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Platteville. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorials may be made to the Dolores B. McKillip Memorial Fund. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com

Dolores was born on July 5, 1918 in Jamestown Township, Grant County, daughter of Joseph and Dora (Digman) Lange. She was married to John Carl Gussman in 1944 and they lived in various places across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. He preceded her in death in 1949. In 1954, she married Pete Krier, who owned Pete's Place. They lived above the tavern and in 1959 he preceded her in death. After Pete's death, she continued to own and operate the bar and renamed it, Dolores' Bar, which she ran until she retired, after 23 years. She and husband Larry McKillip then moved to their home on Virgin Avenue in 1977. Larry preceded her in death in 1986.

Dolores started working in the restaurant business as a waitress in East Dubuque, Illinois, when she was only 15 years old. During the war, she was a security guard with the Savanna River Ordinance Depot. Dolores was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Platteville and member of the CCW. Dolores was very active in the CCW and was a past president. She enjoyed helping the elderly, doing charity work, garage sailing, and playing cards, especially euchre.

Dolores is survived by a granddaughter, Lynn, and her husband, Sunil, and their son, Ryan – Dolores' great-grandson. Lynn is the daughter of Tom (nee, John), Dolores's son that she gave up for adoption as a young woman. Dolores and Tom were reunited in 2010, where she gained a new family. They enjoyed their relationship until he preceded her in death in 2015. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews. Dolores is also preceded in death by her 6 siblings, Mary Salwolke, Teenie Conzett, Margaret Hoff, Joseph Lange, Evelyn Schoenhard, and Lucille Welter; and seven half siblings, Maria Puls, Jack Lange, Gus Lange, Liz Klaas, Kathryn Briggs, Dodie Lange, and Frieden Lange.

Dolores McKillip

July 05, 1918 - February 09, 2017

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