Dessie Arlene Adams, 93, passed away on Oct. 5, 2022, at Rocky Knoll Health Care Center, where she has resided since April 2016. Her previous residence was on Frederick Street in Plymouth.
Dessie was born April 14, 1929, in a farm house in Juneau County near Wonewoc, Wisconsin. She was a daughter to the late Preymer and Dessie Mary (Sutherland) Rynes. At the age of 3, her family moved to a farm near Camp Douglas. When she was 5 years old, they moved to Vernon County and settled near Ontario and Mount Tabor, known as “Johnny Cake.” She attended Fairview Primary School. Dessie always admired the beauty of the hills and valleys of the region.
Dessie graduated from Ontario High School in 1946. After graduation, she moved to Madison and worked at Rennebohm’s Drug Store on State Street from 1947-1955. This is where she met Oren Edwin Adams, the love of her life.
On June 30, 1948, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mount Tabor, Dessie married Oren.
In 1955, they moved to Plymouth. This is when they purchased Fifrick’s Drug Store at 227 E. Mill St. While raising seven children, she decided to become a stay-at-home mother. As her children grew, Dessie worked at the pharmacy. She continued to work and retired in 2002.
Throughout her life in Plymouth, Dessie was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Survivors include two sons and three daughters: Steven (Bette Rae), Robert (Sara), Deborah Reilly, Helen Adams of Plymouth, and Margaret (Pete) Zimmermann of Jackson, Wisconsin; one brother: James (Bernadette) Rynes of Ontario, Wisconsin; grandchildren: Ryan (Joanna) Reilly, Christopher (Katie) Reilly, Nicole (Aron) Pankow, Amy (Alan) Barrows, Chad Adams, Jordan (Stephanie) Adams, Mitchell (Lori) Adams, Lindley (William) Mauer and Alaina (Dillon) Harvey; great-grandchildren: Aiden Reilly, Zayda and Sophia Pankow, Elizabeth, Allison and Henry Barrows, Wilson and Kennedy Adams, Owen Reilly, Grace and Charlotte Mauer and Mitchell and Addi Baumann. She is also survived by many other nieces, nephews and family friends.
Dessie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Oren; son, Edward; daughter, Jane; son-in-law, William Reilly; grandson, Jamie Reilly; brother, Floyd Rynes; two sisters, Helen West and Joy Elizabeth Rynes; four brothers-in-law, Allen Adams, Robert Adams, Bob West and Felix Zalewski; four sisters-in-law, Charlotte Adams, Margaret Adams, Elaine Zalewski and Marie Rynes.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Plymouth at noon on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. Pastor of the church, Father Philip Reifenberg, will officiate.
Visitation will take place at the church from 10 a.m. until time of Mass. Private family burial will be held Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, at the parish cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial in Dessie’s name to: St. Vincent de Paul Society, John Wayne Cancer Institute or the Leukemia Society of Wisconsin.
The Suchon Funeral Home and Cremation Services is serving the family. For online condolences, please visit www.suchonfh.com.
Dessie’s family would like to send a very special thank you to the nurses and staff at Rocky Knoll Health Care Facility and Sharon S. Richardson Hospice for all the care and compassion given to her over the years. Thank you to all the employees and customers of Adams Pharmacy for all of your support over the many years in business; you were all part of our family.
Dessie Arlene Adams
