This month, we celebrate someone truly special in our community—Dorothy Kane, who just turned 101 years old on July 14th! Born in 1924 in Wisconsin, Dorothy has lived a remarkable life filled with love, resilience, and dedication to both her family and her work.
Dorothy’s story is one of perseverance and purpose. During World War II, she stepped up to support the nation’s efforts by working in a government plant making drills for the military. After the war, she transitioned into office roles, eventually enjoying a 20-year career in banking. She started as a teller and rose to become a vault supervisor—a position she held until the age of impressive age of 89.
Even after retirement, Dorothy’s strength and loyalty never wavered. She lovingly cared for her husband during his illness for ten years until his final days, she stuck by his side.
So what’s her secret to living 100 years? Dorothy says it’s all about staying active and keeping your mind engaged. She still enjoys cooking and baking, especially the Polish recipes she grew up with—like kolache, which she lovingly taught her grandson to make. Though she was once fluent in Polish, she admits she’s lost much of it over the years, but would still sprinkle in a few words to help bank customers when she could.
Dorothy has witnessed the world change in unimaginable ways—especially in technology. While she once worked with computers at the bank, she now prefers a good pen and paper. Through it all, she has remained grounded in her values: hard work, resilience, and family above all.
