Dolores Mary Gibson-Kunka, age 89, passed away peacefully Monday evening, July 24, 2023 at Aurora Medical Center in Mt. Pleasant. Dolores was born in Racine on January 30, 1934, daughter of the late Clarence and Frances (nee: Pier) Heck.

Dee, as she was affectionately known by family and friends graduated from St. Catherine's High School "Class of 1952", and earned her teaching degree from Dominican College. A great athlete, Dee played second base and pitched for the Racine Belles baseball team in their last years of existence. On September 7, 1955, Dee was united in marriage to John "Jack" R. Gibson. They raised four children, Kathleen, John, James and Rebecca and shared thirty seven wonderful years together before Jack preceded her in death in 1992. Dee was fortunate to find love again and married Bernard "Bernie" Kunka on February 27, 1999. Dee taught at Sacred Heart Grade School for three years and then was employed with Racine Unified for thirty years. She was a member of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, and the 5th Street Yacht Club Ladies Auxiliary where she served as secretary and member of their board. In her spare time, Dee enjoyed playing bridge, her flower garden, her gourmet cooking club, cheering on the Brewers and Packers, her many travels around the world, and her winters in Marathon, spending time on their boats the "Dee-Light" and "Prospector". Above all, Dee will be best remembered for her great love and devotion to her family.

Dee will be dearly missed by her husband of twenty four years, Bernie; her children, Kathleen Martin, John Gibson Jr., James (Carol) Gibson, Rebecca (Kevin) Christensen; grandchildren, Matthew (Karie) Martin, Patrick (Michelle) Martin, Rachael Gibson, Sam Christensen, Sara (Luke) Sebald; great grandchildren, Kaden Nygren, Ella Martin Levi and Louis Sebald; siblings, Shirley Heck, Mary Kay (David) Hansen, Donna Benedict; sisters-in-law, Cel Heck, Lorraine Heck, Mary Heck; her extended Kunka family, sons, Bill Kunka, Mike Kunka, Jim Kunka (Denise Schoening); daughter, Ellen (Mike) Panozzo; grandchildren, Kate (Chris) Simonds, James (Stephanie) Kunka; great grandchildren, Nathan and Rhiannon Kunka; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband John, Dee was also preceded in death by her brothers, Richard, Lawrence, Robert, Clarence "Junior", and Eugene; sister, Marjorie Johnson; son-in-law, James Martin; and her great granddaughter, Penelope Martin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, 1903 Green Street, Tuesday August 1, 2023, 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Steve Varghese officiating. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Memorials to St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church have been suggested.