Dory died on November 30, 2022, in Appleton. She was the youngest of 3 sisters born in Oshkosh to Robert and Emma Brechlin. She graduated from Oshkosh High School in the spring of 1943. Shortly after, the family moved to Appleton where she met her future husband of 57 years, Jim (James Robert) Kimball. They married in 1948 and had 3 children.
Together they built a home and over the years planned and planted an extensive natural landscape to include vegetable and flower gardens, trees of all kinds and a prairie on the banks of Mud Creek in Grand Chute. Wildlife and birds were celebrated as frequent visitors.
Pets were always an important part of her life; cats, dogs, rabbits, a crow and a pig to mention but a few.
Dory enjoyed volunteering, especially nature projects. She helped plan and plant the butterfly house at Mosquito Hill Nature Center and create a butterfly garden at Bubolz Nature Center. She was a member of several garden clubs including Wild Ones and for years helped to pick the gardens for the Emergency Shelter Garden Walk. Dory helped several friends start their own prairies earning her the nickname "prairie godmother". She was delighted to know that her love of the natural world lives on in her children and grandchildren.
She helped the Appleton Public Library with their used book sale, the Salvation Army's Adopt-A-Family Program, the tutoring program at Highlands School and knit hundreds of caps for newborns at ThedaCare-Appleton.
Talented in many of the needle arts, Dory loved knitting, crocheting, sewing and cross stitch.
She also enjoyed braiding and hooking rugs, refinishing furniture, painting and many other handicrafts.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jim (2005) and her sisters, Imogene (Imy) Rogers and Marlyn (Mar) Jones Burgert. She is survived by her children Karen "Karry" Jensen, Linda Kimball (Frank Hanson), Tom Kimball (Laura), 4 grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree or make a donation to The Nature Conservancy.
(https://preserve.nature.org/page/80429/donate/lj
A celebration of Dory's life will take place in August 2023.
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