Antonette "Nettie" Dul

Athens – Antonette E. Dul, "Nettie", passed away unexpectedly on November 29, 2023, at the age of 90 years.

She will be lovingly remembered by her four children, thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren: Susan Weis (Bradford) and their children: Nicole (Ryan), Hayley (Cody) and their daughter, Eleanor, Libby (Jared), Rachel (Ross) and their children (Jerick and Lisa), and Jacqueline (Ryan) and their children (Patrick and Judy).  Audrey Venske (Jim) and their children: Dustin (Emily), Cassandra (Nathaniel) and their children(Silas and Henry), and Amanda. Ronald Dul (Carla) and their children: Sylwia(Cody), Michal and Aleksandra.  Janice Diedrich (Rob) and their children: Benjamin and Moriah.  Also surviving are her sister-in-law Lorraine Mielke and many nieces and nephews.

Nettie was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Benjamin, her brothers, Robert and David and by her parents, Andrew and Rose Levandowski.

Nettie was born on the family farm in the town of Dewey in Portage County and became an excellent cook at the elbow of her mother, who was a former sous chef in Chicago during the Roaring Twenties. After graduating from P.J. Jacobs High School in Stevens Point, she attended UWSP until her father fell ill.   She was a talented artist, but never pursued that calling, choosing to work in more ‘practical’ occupations.  She spoke about her secretarial work at Lullaby Furniture in the 1950’s and later, at Citizen’s National Bank.  A music lover, especially of polka music, Nettie played the piano accordion and encouraged her children to take on musical pursuits as well, running them to many music lessons over the years. As a twenty-something in the 1950’s, she played polka gigs occasionally with her cousin, Tom Levandowski.   

She met the love of her life, Benjamin, at a polka dance and married him on her birthday in 1959 at St. Casmir parish in the town of Hull. They owned a farm together in the town of Guenther, raising various animals and gardening.  Nettie continued her employment after marriage at Citizen’s National until she could no longer hide her first pregnancy, lamenting later in life to her daughters about the old rules that dictated women had to quit immediately if expecting.

Nettie was St. Francis Xavier’s first CCD coordinator, training at the La Crosse Diocese to earn her certificate.  When her children grew self-sufficient, she went back into the work force, serving as clerk for the town of Guenther for many years.  She eventually landed as office manager for the UWSP College of Letters and Science (History Department).  This affiliation led to a multi-decade association with the Annual Lectures on Poland, where she served as secretary and was a board member, well into retirement, volunteering at cultural events such as Polish Fest.  Extremely proud of her Polish heritage, she passed this pride down to her children and grandchildren. 

She enjoyed cooking, sewing, wine making, dancing, and bird watching. An avid reader for life, she volunteered at St. Anthony school reading program in Athens.  In the 1970’s, Nettie was instrumental getting the Marathon County Library Bookmobile to stop in the town of Guenther, ensuring that rural citizens, especially children, had easier access to books.

Public visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until mass at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 7th, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Knowlton. 

The family would like to extend thanks to Athenian Living of Athens for their compassion and care of Nettie in her last days.