Emil Dockter

Emil Dockter, 96, passed away peacefully after a rich, long-lived life, in the early hours of May 24, 2018, in Madison, Wisconsin. He was near his wife and family in his final days and hours.

Emil was the second born to John F. and Barbara (Schaffer) Dockter. Raised on the family farm just outside of Streeter, North Dakota, he was called to the ministry.

At age 17 he left home to enroll in the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression era work program that helped send money back home. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Navy, serving his country during World War II on the island of Guam. He then graduated from Wartburg College, Waverly, IA, and received his Masters of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA. He would later earn a Masters Degree in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin and study at the Carl Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland.

As a full-time pastor, he served many American Lutheran Church (Now ELCA) churches: Peace Lutheran Church of Billings, MT, East Side Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls, SD, St. John's Lutheran Church of Bloomer, WI, Faith Lutheran Church of Rosholt, WI, and Otter Creek/Fairview Lutheran Churches of Highland, WI.

Emil and wife Adeline (Sherva) first retired in 1985; moving to a hill-top country home they built in Elk Mound, WI. Newly 'retired', he served as interim pastor for many area churches: Big Elk Creek & Barum in Elk Mound, WI, Trinity in Boyceville, WI, Our Savior's in Wheeler, WI, St. Stephen's in West St. Paul, MN, Salem in Shell Lake, WI, First Lutheran in Amery, WI, and First Lutheran in New Richmond, WI.

They retired a second time in 1993 to Surprise, AZ. There, a non-stop Emil wrote five books exploring the soul and offering new thoughts on traditional religious holidays. As the subject of his many seminars, exploration of the soul and creating meaningful conversations were his final areas of study. During a lifetime of work he reached thousands and thousands of people on a personal level.

He is survived by his wife, Adeline and sons Michael (Stephanie), Daniel (Lauren), James (Kris), and Gregory (Becky), grandchildren Colin & Sydney (of Daniel), and Noah, Sarah & Jake (of Gregory), sister Rose (Percy) Horst, and brother Elmer (Virginia). In our hearts, but no longer with us are his parents John F. and Barbara, brothers Art, Adam, and Adolph, and sisters Bertha and Ann.

Emil was a lover of his wife and family, good conversations, his typewriter, cigars, his birthplace, hot tubs, a cold beer, swinging an axe for firewood, and Adeline's Sunday chicken dinner. He will be missed forever.

For more information on the memorial service to be held July 21, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin, please email dandockter@me.com.

"Honor your soul."

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services
1310 Emerald Terrace
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
608-837-9054