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Lola Grace Doeren, 76, a 35-year resident of Albuquerque, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2003 from complications due to advanced diabetes. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Earl, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret); four children; Stephanie of Albuquerque, Stephen of Springfield, MO, Bruce, of Albuquerque, and Bob of Durango, CO; and seven grandchildren, David, Dustin, Graham, Michael, Cara, Ryan and Miquela. Both she and her husband were raised in the De Pere /Green Bay area of Wisconsin, and met after Earl returned to his home town after four years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Her parents, both deceased, were Ralph and Luella La Fortune. She also had three siblings, all deceased, Ruth, Maynard and Kenneth (who died in WWII). The family owned a small neighborhood store in Green Bay. Grace spent much of her life moving with her family to different Air Force postings throughout the period of the Cold War. The places they lived included Japan, Alaska, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Colorado. While in Colorado, Col. Doeren was stationed at the newly built North America Air Defense Command (NORAD) deep inside Cheyenne Mountain at Colorado Springs. Col. Doeren retired from the Air Force in 1968, and the family moved to Albuquerque. Grace was known for her outgoing friendly personality, and was well liked by almost everyone she met. One of her main passions was early Americana and antiques, including beautiful pieces of furniture that have passed from generation to generation in her family. Her home was replete with numerous early Americana handicrafts and period-piece photographs, and she went all out to seasonally decorate her home at such holidays as Easter and Christmas. She loved the holidays, decorated her whole house, and created beautiful Christmas trees and presents. Grace also had a beautiful voice and often sang in church choirs. She delighted in watching movie comedies from the video stores, and laughed heartily at every punch line and sight gags in such films as Kingpins, Naked Gun, and Analyze This. Grace also loved to play bridge, and played regularly at Bear Canyon Senior Center. Cooking was another of her main loves, sticking mainly to the Wisconsin food she grew up with. She especially loved to bake pies, cakes, cookies and candy. At Christmas times, when her family was together, she made so many treats they filled almost every cupboard in her kitchen. She also hid some of it in secret places so her children wouldn't find all the treats and eat them all up before Christmas. Funeral Services for Grace will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, January 17, 2003 at Chapel of Sandia, 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE, with Fr. Michael Schamp officiating. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. in Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, NM. Sandia Funeral Care 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010
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