Dorothy J. Waltz, age 91, passed away on Sunday, May 1, 2016, at Boscobel Care and Rehab, where she resided the past 5 years. She was born May 14, 1924, the eldest child of Herman Otto Frey and Irene Priscilla Ransom. She married Edward F. Waltz on November 30, 1944, and they were blessed with nine children. After farming in Marion Township for 23 years, they moved to Boscobel where they owned and operated the Waltz Inn for over 15 years. In her semi-retirement, Dorothy enjoyed sharing her creative cooking skills as the “demo lady” at Dick's Super Market in Boscobel.
Being the oldest of eight children, Dorothy was needed at home to help with her younger siblings and never had the opportunity to attend high school. But her “yearning for learning” pushed her to earn her GED, which she did through Southwest Tech in 1970. Later, Empty Nest Syndrome found her taking up china painting as a hobby, which proved to be a hidden talent at which she was very successful. She was a Chamber of Commerce member for many years, having been a nominee for Citizen of the Year. She served as a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Altar Society for over 70 years. As an active bible study participant, she was instrumental in organizing the first annual holiday gathering of area bible study groups, which tradition continues today, twenty years later. She was known far and wide for her cooking and baking skills and baked many pies and cream puffs for church and community events and fundraisers (not to mention all those batches of chili that helped save the Depot). She also enjoyed reading, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles and cryptograms, and playing card games with friends and family. But it was her kind and loving ways, her infectious smile and wonderful “Grandma” kisses that will remain forever in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to be “hers.”
Dorothy is survived by seven children, Sandra (Bernard) Scanlan of Fennimore, Frederick of Boscobel, Patricia (Steven) Updike of Boscobel, Ruthanne Copsey of Prairie du Chien, Thomas A (Pamela) of Boscobel, Nancy (Michael) Devlin of Woodman, and Michelle (Rich) Bender of Colorado Springs, CO, a daughter-in-law, Sally Waltz, Boscobel, 27 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Alfred (Jean) Frey of Fennimore, and three sisters, Joanne (Sam) Griffin of Racine, Shirley (Gale) Slauson of Hesperia, CA, and Charlene Staskal of East Dubuque, IL as well as a sister-in-law, Loretta Waltz, Fennimore, and two brothers-in-law, Al Rice, Wisconsin Dells and Tom C. Waltz of Boscobel along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Edward, in 1980, and two children, Judith, in 2000, Edward Jr. in 2012, and a daughter-in-law, Sue Waltz in 2013, a brother, Robert (Lorraine) Frey, and two sisters, Helen Gebhard and Martha (Orville) Stender, a brother-in-law, Edward Staskal; also sister-in-law Agnes (Edward) Ruzicka, brother-in-law John F Waltz, sisters-in-law Anna Mae Rice and Leila Waltz.
Services will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Monday, May 9th, at 11 a.m.
Friends may call at the Kendall Funeral Home on Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, with a rosary to follow, and from 9:30 to 10:30 am on Monday.
Memorials may be given to Immaculate Conception Church, Boscobel Education Foundation, or the Boscobel Rescue Squad.
Online condolence can be sent to www.kendallfuneralservice.com
|
Click for printable service program
