Dorothy Troller

Madison - Dorothy Mae Johnson Troller died unexpectedly on January 22, 2018 of heart failure at her home at Capitol Lakes retirement center in downtown Madison. Although she would have been 90 years old in March, she was, to the very end, focused on living enthusiastically in the present and planning exuberantly for the future.

Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on March 19, 1928, she was the daughter of Irvin and Hedwig (Heuer) Johnson. She received a Bachelor's Degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1949 and went on to establish a career in journalism and marketing. She married her college sweetheart, Robert J. (Bob) Troller in 1950 and was an active partner in building CeCOR, Inc., a successful manufacturing business in Verona, Wisconsin, which they operated together for 45 years until 2000.

Her favorite place was at the family cottage in Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin, designed by her architect son, Tom Troller of Ipswich, Massachusetts. For over five decades she and Bob traveled and vacationed with beloved friends from college days, Bob and Mary Williams, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and Joe and Margo Melli, of Madison with whom they shared the Door County house for nearly 30 years.

In September of 2017 she satisfied a long-time dream and purchased a sailboat, intending to take sailing lessons this summer. She gave up horseback riding at age 75 but finished the first draft of a novel called "The Equestrians" in 2017. It's been many years since she danced on a table in Paris, but that's another story.

Dorothy loved music and played oboe in Madison's New Horizons band for many years. She was a voracious reader, especially loving American and British history, and was deeply into Ron Chernow's new biography of Ulysses S. Grant when she died. At Capitol Lakes, she frequently wrote for the retirement center's monthly publication, The Center Post. She was an active supporter of the arts, including American Players Theater and the Madison Symphony Orchestra. She loved the natural world, supported various environmental groups and particularly treasured The Ridges Sanctuary in Bailey's Harbor.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan (Howard) Cosgrove of New Glarus; son, Tom (Jane) Troller of Ipswich; and daughter-in-law, Nancy Troller of Middleton. Grandchildren include Bonnie (Bruce Nilles) Cosgrove, Oakland, California; Amelia (Bryan) Thomas, Redwood City, California; Julia (Josh Wimmer) Cosgrove of Madison; John M. Troller, of Denver; Emma Troller of Boston; and Conrad Troller of Ipswich. Her four great grandchildren include Juliet Mae and Ian Robert Cosgrove Nilles of Oakland and twins Susannah and Cecilia Cosgrove Wimmer of Madison. She is also survived by additional dear family members as well as horse-loving and music-loving friends and the close-knit community at Capitol Lakes. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Bob Troller, her parents, two brothers and her youngest son, Robert C. (Rob) Troller.

There will be a memorial gathering for family and friends on Saturday, March 10, 2018, at CAPITOL LAKES, 333 W. Main Street, Madison, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Dorothy's name be given to the Madison Symphony Orchestra, The Ridges Sanctuary in Bailey's Harbor and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism in Madison.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services
3610 Speedway Road
(608) 238-3434