Dolores Spaeth Pulskamp's Obituary
Dolores Spaeth Pulskamp, of Oldenburg, Indiana, but lately of Ripley Crossing, in Milan, Indiana passed away on October 12, 2025, with family by her side. She was 98. Dolores was born at home in the Northside community of Cincinnati on October 20, 1926. She is the daughter of Joseph and Marie (Wanner) Bella and the sister of the late Norbert Bella.
Dolores attended St. Boniface for her grade school years and graduated from Walnut Hills High School. Her first job, right out of school, was in the office of a private detective. Until recent years, she could rattle off the office phone number and the discrete way she was to answer the phone.
After getting such a quick introduction to a different side of life, she took a job in the bookkeeping department of Kahn’s. There she met her first love, Dave Spaeth. They married at St. Boniface in May of 1952 and grew their family of six children quickly. Dad preceded mom in death in December of 1987.
Since dad traveled so much for his job, mom took on many tasks. She was the painter, landscaper, hanger of pictures and a world-class packer of school lunches. Mom sewed curtains, prom dresses, church dresses and countless draw-string bags that held the dreaded multiplication flash cards. Dad said mom had the patience of a saint until it was homework time. Mom could make the best roast beef and at Christmas, she baked enough cookies to feed an army.
Mom had beautiful handwriting and superior driving skills. She could parallel park our 8-passenger station wagon, loaded with six kids, in a single try. Mom was of the generation that witnessed the Great Depression, World War II and ration stamps.
Mom shared many memories over the years, but the one that was the most vivid was from the flood of 1937. She recalled getting into a rowboat from the second-floor window of their home, along with her parents, brother, dog Jif and Billy the bird. The home and neighborhood were a total loss, and they had to start from scratch.
Dolores married Harold Pulskamp in 1995, and they enjoyed 19 years together until Harold’s death in 2015.
A woman of deep faith, mom prayed the rosary daily until that ability slipped away. Dolores was an active member of Holy Family Church, serving as Eucharistic Minister as well as a festival worker and helped count the collection. She was also a Daughter of Isabella.
Survivors include daughters Stephanie (Ron) Binz of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mary Sue (Rick) Koch of Batesville, Indiana, Kris ( Dan ) Schneider of Sunman, Indiana, Gina (Gary) Davidson of St. Mary’s, Indiana; sons Jerry (Rose) Spaeth of Guilford, Indiana and Tom (Lorna) Spaeth of Westfield, Indiana; grandchildren Greg Mehlbauer, Shelly Fischer, Trisha Goldsmith, Stuart Schneider, Eric Faust, Allison Corbin, Ted Schneider, Neil Spaeth, Leah Faust, Brandon Faust and 24 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, brother Norbert and husbands Dave and Harold, mom was preceded in death by great-granddaughter Emily Faust and great- grandsons Aiden Mehlbauer and Vaughn Fischer.
Visitation is Monday, October 20th, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., at Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg, Indiana. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:00 p.m., at the church, with Fr. John Barker OFM officiating, with the burial following at the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Margaret Mary Health Foundation.
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