VISITATION & FUNERAL
Saturday, March 8, 2025
at
Heritage Funeral Home
3801 S. Howell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Visitation: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Funeral Service: 11:30 AM
Burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery

Dorothy A. Koscielak

Born to Eternal Life on February 19, 2025 at the age of 97 years. Preceded in death by her husband, Robert Koscielak. Mother of Kathleen (Paul) Bondar, Michael (Patti) Koscielak, Christine (Greg) Baker, and Cynthia (Rick) Heinen. Grandmother of Robert, Ryan, Elizabeth, Michael, Kourtney, Sean, Bret, Samantha, Heather, Amanda, and Emily. She is further survived by great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Dorothy was the only child of Alfons and Margaret Garskay. She grew up in Milwaukee. After graduating from high school, she worked in retail sales. She eventually met Robert Koscielak and they married on July 16, 1949. Their first house was a model home near 24th and Morgan. They eventually purchased some land in Caledonia and built a home where they lived a more rural life. It was probably here where Dorothy learned to enjoy gardening. She loved her flowers and would grow vegetables as well. When the harvest was more than could be eaten, she canned the excess to use in her culinary creations at a later date. Kathleen and Michael were born during the family’s time living at the Caledonia home.Eventually, Dorothy and Robert decided it was time to move back to Milwaukee. They bought some land on South 20th Street, and in 1966 it was here that they built their “forever” home. When Christine and Cynthia came along, the family was complete.

Dorothy continued to work in retail sales while also running the house. In 1976, Dorothy and Robert opened up Best Beer and Liquor, which they owned and operated until closing the doors in 1992.
Dorothy continued to enjoy her gardening – she was especially fond of roses and her rose bushes were the envy of the neighborhood. Dorothy also loved crafting and was an accomplished seamstress – excelling at needlepoint and counted cross stitch. Before closing the liquor store, Dorothy started a consignment shop and craft store she called “Creative Corner” in some spare space at the liquor store. She continued with the shop for a while even after they closed the liquor store.

Dorothy was a strong, no-nonsense lady. She loved her family unconditionally, but she wasn’t a push-over. She was a resilient woman, bouncing back from a broken hip and a shoulder later in life, but not long after turning 90, living alone became too much for her and had to move from her beloved home on 20th Street.  Dorothy will be greatly missed by her family.