Dawn M Discher

Dawn Discher will forever be known as an angel on Earth. According to Merriam Webster, an angel is "a person with exemplary conduct or virtue and a spiritual being believed to act as a messenger of God." Dawn encompassed what it meant to be an angel, with an extra side of spunk. Born Dawn Marie Thull in Berlin, Wisconsin, on July 9th, 1951, to her parents Nick and Leone (Etrick) Thull, Dawn earned her eternal wings on Sunday, December 9th, 2018, surrounded by family.

She attended St. Michael’s – where she developed a strong bond of friendship with a group of girls that still remains today – graduated from Berlin High School, and attended UW-Oshkosh. She later worked at Wisconsin National Life as an Executive Secretary then for Winnebago County Social Services as a Case Worker.

On October 13th, 1984, Dawn married Bruce Discher. Although he often teased that she got the pick of the litter, he has long realized that he was the lucky one. Upon the birth of their first child, she began her real career as a wife and mother. According to her children, John, Anna and Jill, having Dawn Discher as a mother was like winning the lottery.

As Bruce spent long hours building the business, Dawn spent long hours taking care of business at home. She worked at what she loved. And what she loved was her family; she loved her Discher-life. Each day, she worked hard for her family. That sounds incredibly simple, but it’s true. Her abiding love for Bruce sustained her. Her love, devotion, and commitment to her children “defined” her (Arthur Rathjen, neighbor). Her greatest accomplishments were her three beautiful children. As parents, we are judged by what we leave behind. John, Anna and Jill have solidified her legacy (Bill Hickey, long-time friend).

Dawn is a self-described “free spirit” and “hippie girl.” Anyone lucky enough to meet Dawn would describe her as a ray of sunshine. She radiated light and positive energy, from her one-of-a-kind spiky blonde hair and illuminating smile, to the big hug and kiss she greeted you with. She had what we call “The Dawn Effect” – she made an impact on everyone she met; she made everyone a better person. Dawn had the biggest heart, the freest spirit, the highest platform shoes, the most iconic blonde do, and the most colorful personality (clothes and jeeps included). If there was a better person on the face of this earth, I have not met them (Richard Spiczenski, long-time friend).

Dawn’s generosity was unmatched. From giving one of her favorite necklaces away because somebody told her they liked it, to giving a complete stranger $100 so they could take their sick dog to the vet, to throwing a baby shower for the woman who did her nails; this was Dawn’s magic. You’d often drive by the Discher household and see a driveway full of neighborhood children, bubble machine going, dilly bars in-hand. Halloween was next-level with Dawn’s elaborate costumes and special treat bags for her favorite neighbor kids.

No one was left unfed when Dawn was around. From feeding John’s friends pounds of lunch meat during their high school lunch hour to setting up “Dawn’s Deli” in Notre Dame for the Julie’s Touch of Silver dancers. Many of the fondest memories were made sitting around the restaurant-quality spread in her kitchen.

After Dawn’s three children left the nest, her career shifted to a stay-at-home dog mom. She scheduled her days around her walks with her dog, Otis. While Dawn disguised walks as her exercise, it was secretly her social hour(s). She was friends with every dog in the neighborhood and their owners were an added bonus. Through these walks, Dawn would open her heart to everyone and earned the title “Mother Teresa of Pine Ridge Road”.

Many of us have been having a hard time understanding why Dawn would have to go through cancer again. Her childhood friend Louise explained it perfectly, “The only thing I can think of is because you are strong and brave and can set a good example for the rest of us when our time comes.” And Dawn did just that. She was raised with, and held onto, her strong Catholic faith until the end. Dawn’s wish was for no sympathy, but to do something nice for someone else.

Dawn is survived by her husband Bruce Discher, son John (Kayla) Discher, daughters Anna Discher, and Jill (Matt) Stephanie, and granddaughter Isla Rose Discher; her beloved walking buddy, Otis and granddogs Rushy and Pete; mother Leone Thull, sisters Mary Jo (Gene) Trochinski, Connie Lehmann, Terri Anderson, and Carol Thull, and brothers Nick and Gary Thull; sister-in-law Kristi (Harold) Timmerman and brother-in-law Donald Metoxen. She is further survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, dear friends, and the hundreds of complete strangers she befriended every day. She was preceded in death by her father Nick A. Thull, mother-in-law Carol G. Discher, father-in-law Melvin W. Discher and sister-in-law Barbara J. Metoxen. Meeting her at Rainbow Bridge were her beloved pets Festus, Blue, and Diesel.

The family wishes to send a heartfelt thank you to “Sunny Girl 2” sister Terri Anderson for her devoted care to her soul sister and Sister Connie Lehmann for providing an “escape” in her last weeks including: homemade lunches, pink champagne, lavender incense, and records by Phoebe Snow and Amy Winehouse. Thank you to Heartland Hospice caregivers, Ann, Dani, and Christine, for your kind and compassionate care. She loved and appreciated everything you did for her which was illustrated with a kiss on the hand each time you were here. We would also like to express our gratitude to the many family and friends who sent well wishes, cards, flowers, food, Christmas decorations, and prayers that helped lift us up during this difficult time.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 12th, from 6-9pm at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home, 100 Lake Pointe Drive in Oshkosh, and Thursday, December 13th, from 10am to 12pm at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 830 S Westhaven Drive, also in Oshkosh, with a funeral service to follow. To honor Dawn’s legacy, we ask that you wear bright colors (flower crowns and fairy dust will be distributed). Dawn will be laid to rest in the Discher family plot at Peace Lutheran Cemetery, 100 W. Waukau Avenue in Oshkosh. A celebration of a life well-lived will take place at Oblio’s Lounge, 434 N Main Street in Oshkosh following the service. Dawn had a deep love of animals. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made out in Dawn’s name to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society.

“When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”
– Paul McCartney

Everything will be okay.