Dolores "Dee" Mielke, nee Pisoni, age 96, born April 9, 1928 in Herrin, Ill. passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on March 14, 2025 at Memorial East Hospital in Shiloh, Ill.

Dee grew up in Herrin with her parents Louis and Mary Pisoni and brother Louis, Jr. Her father was a coal miner and when the mines closed during her high school years, the family moved to Chicago, Ill.

There she met her future husband, Paul Mielke of Oak Park, Ill., fell in love, married in 1948 and made their first home in Elmhurst, Ill., with subsequent moves to Geneva, Ill., and St. Charles, Ill. Her husband Paul passed away in December 1982. Besides taking care of the family, she worked outside the home doing various jobs primarily in delicatessens and kitchens. She thoroughly enjoyed the jobs and her co-workers.

Dee served as a member and officer of the Geneva, Ill. American Legion Post 75 Auxiliary and the Batavia, Ill. VFW Post 1197 Ladies Auxiliary.  She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in St. Charles, Ill. until her move to St. Francis Assisted Living at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville, Ill., in June 2021.  She was a loving mother, and most of all she adored and loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the light of her life.

In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents Louis and Mary, nee Magnotti, Pisoni; brother Louis Pisoni Jr.; and daughter Donna (Mielke) Blomquist.

Surviving are her daughter Pamela (Mike) Steinke of Mascoutah, Ill., son-in-law Craig Blomquist of St. Charles, Ill.; grandchildren Kasey (Rick) Gonzales of Modesto, Calif., Shannon (Thomas) Millikan of Marion, Ky., Jonathan (Janet) Blomquist of Plainfield, Ill., Michael (Carrie Fitzhugh) Steinke of O'Fallon, Ill., Ingrid (Chris) Burrichter of Chicago, Ill. and two great-grandchildren, Greta and Levi Burrichter.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the entire staff of St. Francis for taking such great care of Dee and making her such a part of a wonderful community and family. Also, our thanks to the 4th floor Memorial East Hospital staff, including the BJC Hospice staff. They made the final part of Dee's journey home very comfortable with great care, kindness and compassion.

Visitation will be held Monday, March 24, 2025 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 625 St. Nicholas Dr., O'Fallon, Ill., beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am, with Fr. Nick Junker presiding. Interment will be 2:30 pm, in San Carlo Cemetery, Herrin, Ill.

Services entrusted to Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon, Ill. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.wfh-ofallon.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be appreciated to St. Jude Children Hospital or BJC Hospice.