The passing of Peter Dorschel

Word has been received of the passing of Peter Dorschel, who died Sunday, Jan. 6 at the age of 99, just a few days shy of his 100th birthday. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In 2005 the University named the campus swimming and diving pool the Peter F. Dorschel Natatorium. Through the naming of the natatorium, UW-Green Bay honored both Dorschel and his wife, Jane, for their longtime involvement in the community and their generous financial support of the renovation and expansion of UW-Green Bay’s Phoenix Sports Center. Mrs. Dorschel died in 2011 at the age of 97. Peter Dorschel was a Green Bay native and former standout swimmer who starred at the University of Wisconsin in the 1930s. He founded Dorschel Realty and worked as both an appraiser and realtor, and was a member of the prestigious Member Appraisal Institute. On the occasion of the natatorium dedication, Dorschel shared that one of his most remarkable athletic achievements came at age 13 with a long-distance swim from the old Wells Coal Dock (now Voyageur Park) in De Pere to the Main Street Bridge in Green Bay. He recalls “turning professional” that day because he accepted $25 from his brother for accomplishing the feat. We’ll post links to arrangements as they become public.