HORICON — For Connie Dornfeld life drastically changed on Sunday. The active woman has been covering everything from accidents to city council meetings in Horicon for the last several decades.

Dornfeld, at the age of 85, ended her long career in journalism on Saturday with the Horicon High School graduation. It was the 40th graduation that she has covered at the school.

"I've seen three children and a granddaughter graduate from there," Dornfeld said.

She has two granddaughters who graduated from other high schools.

In the last 45 years, she has worked 35 years as a reporter for the Daily Citizen.

"I enjoyed doing this and hope that I did some good," Dornfeld said. "I always tried to report things honestly and truthfully."

Dornfeld has a dedication to the industry that did not go unnoticed.

"I have long admired Connie's professionalism and dedication to our profession," Daily Citizen publisher James Kelsh said. "I wish her enthusiasm for this business and her tireless energy were something we could bottle."

"She is the definition of what community journalism is all about," said assistant editor and friend Ken Thomas. "She was a tireless cheerleader for Dodge County and its citizens."

Dornfeld was a member of the National Federation of Press Women for 27 years and past president and secretary of Wisconsin Press Woman. She has won many news/photography awards in WPW competitions and several NFPW contests. She was one of the NFPW members who traveled to Russia in September 1996.

Dornfeld described journalism as one of two favorite careers that she has had over her lifetime. The other one was serving in the WAVES, the WWII era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. She served in the military for two years.

Although one of her greatest honors was serving the United States government, Dornfeld was not born in America. Her parents moved to Upper Michigan from Canada when she was 2. Later in her life, she moved to Wisconsin and was married.

"We moved a lot," Dornfeld said. "I started journalism while I was living in Fox Lake and was writing blurbs for the paper. I started writing when I was the president of the PTO and I'd send things over to the Fox Lake paper."

Dornfeld had no formal education in journalism but found her niche in that career. She covered city council, school board and committee meetings and wrote features, as well as general news coverage in Horicon.

Dornfeld said that she has received many encouraging words and gifts since announcing that she was leaving.

"A lot of them are stunned," Dornfeld said. "I think they thought I was part of the woodwork."

Dornfeld has also remained active with many volunteer opportunities.

"I'm not going to just sit home," she said. "I'll still work at the food pantry and on Monday afternoons I'll be at the educational center. I'll be doing more things with Bethesda and be able to catch up on that house cleaning that has been piling up."

Dornfeld said two loves of her life, flea markets and traveling, will also keep her busy.

"Keeping active is my secret to longevity," Dornfeld said. "Although I'm not really up there yet, I'm getting there, and I believe that it helps to keep active and interested in things."

She will remain in Horicon.

"Where else would I be going to go?" Dornfeld said. "At my age, you don't just start moving around."

The one thing she knows she will miss though is when she hears the sirens.

"I'll think that I should be going," Dornfeld said.