Dorothy L. Franz

Dorothy Franz was a delightful woman, funny and energetic with a natural ability to encourage others. She persevered through several personal hardships, developing compassion and kindness for those in need. She worked hard to take care of her family and always put their interests before her own.

On September 8, 1915, Clarence and Theresa (Mosser) Rulison were thrilled at the birth of their first and only child, Dorothy. Dorothy's father owned a small grocery store and her mother took care of their Grand Rapids home. Sadly, Dorothy's father died when she was just nine years old and she and her mother had to live with various family members. Eventually, Theresa took a retail job at Wurzberg's Department Store. When Dorothy was old enough, she worked as a secretary at her Uncle Bill's furniture company, cleverly inventing her own shorthand.

Dorothy was active in high school as a member of the Hiker's Club and a dancer in the Follies. Some of her closest friends, Dean, Norma, and Mary Jane, remained friends for life. One night, Dorothy was at Dean's home and some young men came over. One of them was James Van Stee, and Dorothy caught his eye right away. They began dating soon after.

James was respectful of Dorothy and her family. He brought her mother to see Dorothy dance in the Follies twice, making sure that Theresa had a good seat the second time. Dorothy and James decided that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, and in 1937 they exchanged vows at an intimate ceremony in Grand Rapids. They spent their honeymoon weekend at Morrison Lake. They were happy together, enjoying dancing, card games, and golf outings with friends.

In the early years of the 1940s, Dorothy and James joined the rest of the nation as they watched the developments of World War II. In 1942, the Van Stees had a personal reason for optimism and hope when they had their first child, Tom. A great challenge lay ahead, however, when James was drafted into the Army and had to be away for a couple of years.

Dorothy rejoiced when she was able to welcome James home. Over the next several years, Tom became big brother to Susan and Bob. Dorothy loved being a mom and looked for ways to make things fun. She encouraged the children in their pursuits and built a positive, loving home. She worked hard to manage their home at 1112 Barber Terrace NW and established a schedule to keep things running smoothly. Friday night was reserved for grocery shopping, Saturday morning was cleaning time, and Saturday night was for baking. She was a great cook, particularly of German foods. James supported the family by working in sales and Dorothy took a job with family social services, eventaully taking a secretarial position at Oakleigh school.

Family was important to the Van Stees, and Nannie, Dorothy's mother, was a frequent and welcome visitor. Most family events also included Aunts Leone and Ida. Dorothy made a big deal about birthdays and insisted that all celebrations take place on the exact date. She always made Tom a cherry cake, Sue a red one, and Bob a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

The evening of April 3, 1956, found the family cleaning up after dinner as they normally did. There were high winds and Jim and Dorothy were keeping an eye on the weather when, surprisingly, the air became strangely calm. Suddenly, the windows blew out. Jim calmly instructed everyone to go downstairs and Dorothy stopped just long enough to grab the children's Easter baskets so they would have something to do. They later learned that it had been an F5 tornado that destroyed much of Hudsonville and Standale and killed seventeen people.

In 1975, the family received a scare when Dorothy and some friends were involved in a serious car accident. Dorothy's leg was badly damaged, requiring a long, difficult recovery, but she never complained. She set her mind on what needed to be done and found a way to do it. That experience was nothing compared to the shock she would face a few years later. On May 1, 1980, James died of a sudden heart attack. Dorothy was devastated, but with the comfort of her family she, as usual, eventually was able to face her loss and do the next thing.

Dorothy became reacquainted with Gerold Franz. He had been the music teacher at Oakleigh and had also lost his spouse. He was understanding and supportive, and the two were married in June of 1983. They enjoyed music, plays, museums, and even a few cruises together. They were married for nearly twenty years until his death in 2001.

Dorothy was a wonderful example of a woman who made the most of what she was given. She loved freely, refused to feel sorry for herself, and truly cared about others. Her influence will continue to be felt among her family and friends for years to come.

Dorothy passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2006. Her husbands, James Van Stee and Gerold Franz, and son, Thomas Van Stee, preceded her in death. Dorothy is survived by her children, Susan (Mike) Tamm and Bob Van Stee; grandchildren, Tracy Tamm and Erin (Jason) Deutsch; and great grandchildren, Alison and Charlie Deutsch. Also surviving are stepchildren, Fritz (Karen) Franz, Nick Franz, Mike (Mari) Franz, and Bob (Gay) Franz; step grandchildren, Kim, Renae, Sean, Laura, and Geoff; brothers-in-law, Bill Van Stee and Norbert (Phyllis) Franz; and cousin, William (Jerry) Vander Mass.

Friends may meet the family on Tuesday, April 18, from 7-9 p.m. at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes - Van't Hof Chapel. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to Clark Home Benevolent Fund.