Dorothy "Mitzi" King

Family was always in the center of Mitzi King’s heart. She thought of others before herself, and each day she tried to share her happiness with the many people she loved. She was a playful woman who deeply adored children and loved to share in their fun. Her youthful spirit earned her a place in the hearts of many.

The 1920’s was a decade of jazz music, industrial expansion, and economic growth. But everything that rises must converge, and with the crash of the stock market Americans witnessed a dramatic reversal of fortune. The Great Depression spread through the country, affecting nearly one out of every four workers with unemployment. In Comstock Park, Michigan, Clarence “Mike” Martin and his wife Bertha maintained their positive spirits by focusing on a different future, the future of their family. They were expecting a child, and on February 23, 1928 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Dorothy Lou Martin.

The youngest of ten children, Dorothy grew up in the “tannery” area of Comstock Park with the company of her many brothers and sisters. The eldest sister, who was eighteen years her senior, never exactly liked the name “Dorothy,” and when she was just a few days old began calling her “Mitzi.” This name stuck, and she was Mitzi forevermore. Like most families during the Depression, the Martins did not have a lot. Their house was not equipped with hot water or an indoor toilet. There were wonderful beaches at Grand Haven, which they visited only in their imaginations. Instead they traveled to Ramona Park once a year. Although this was not nearly as scenic, these vacations provided the setting for many of Mitzi’s favorite memories. Without much money, the Martins discovered something even more valuable: a wealth of love that enabled them to celebrate despite the circumstances of Great Depression. Mitzi and her sisters certainly knew how to have a good time: they were always singing, dancing, and being downright silly. Throughout Mitzi’s life, she remained true to the spirit of this young girl. Even in her later years you could count on her to sing, dance, and get downright silly, especially in the company of her sisters!

Mitzi attended Comstock Park High School. She was an active student, popular among her peers. She was a member of the cheerleading squad and played varsity basketball. When she graduated in 1946, her classmates voted her “Most likely to succeed.” Mitzi worked a few jobs before settling into her position as a clerk at Wurzburg’s Department Store. She was friendly with her coworkers, and sooner than later, one of the women wanted to introduce her to her son. Mitzi agreed, and after the workday ended she went home with Mrs. King to meet her son Richard. This was a fateful day. Mitzi and Richard quickly fell in love, and on December 20, 1952 they were married at St. James Lutheran Church.

The newlyweds settled into an apartment in Comstock Park, located above a drug store. After a few years they moved to the house on Hoover NE, which Mitzi would call “home” for the rest of her life. Her mother lived with them for many years, and they also formed many valuable friendships in the neighborhood. This was a wonderful place to raise a family, and they were soon welcoming their first child into the family.

Over the period of nine years, Mitzi and Richard were blessed with five wonderful children. Mitzi stayed at home until the youngest of the children was in school. She then returned to the working world. She began cleaning houses (a skill that she’d refined by having five children). This was the ideal job: she could set her own schedule around the needs of her family. The Kings went on camping vacations in the summertime, usually in the Upper Peninsula or Camp Concordia.

Mitzi was a wonderful mother. A lifetime member of St. James Lutheran Church, she raised her children on Christian values and taught them to stay on the right path. She supported them in all their interests and ambitions. In the nighttime she would sometimes lay down next to her kids, often falling asleep before them. Mitzi always had a song in her head, and more often than not, these songs found a way into her mouth. Her children vividly remember the way that she whistled old hymns, the way she put lyrics to the melodies that she knew and loved. Mitzi cherished all of these moments. In her later years she said to her kids, “I wish I’d played with you more!” But she was always playing with the kids! She would sweep aside her chores just to sit down on the carpet to play a favorite game. She was a true mother: no matter how much time she spent with her children, she always wanted more.

Mitzi was an outgoing woman. She could, and would, talk to anyone! Of course she enjoyed talking to adults, but talking to children was even better. Mitzi adored children. They were kindred spirits, sharing in their love for ice cream, monkey bars, and toboggans. The King household was always filled with nieces, nephews, neighbors, and eventually grandchildren. Mitzi couldn’t have been happier. She loved watching children play—better still, she loved playing alongside them. She brought new meaning to the phrase “young at heart.” Even in her late sixties, she remained a playful woman with a wonderfully familiar laugh, with a smile that glowed from cheek to cheek. She was, quite possibly, the only grandmother who taught her grandkids how to twirl on the monkey bars. The art of roller-skating was another important lesson that Mitzi passed down through the generations. After a long day of horsing around, Mitzi was just as eager as her grandkids to get an ice cream cone from Frosty Boy.

In her early sixties Mitzi began showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s. With help from Richard and her children, she managed to stay at home until the year 2002. She required additional care, and she eventually moved to Van Andel Pavilion.

Mitzi was a youthful spirit. Every new day was a cause for celebration, and she brought joy into the hearts of everyone who knew her. Among the many people who loved her, she will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.

Mitzi died on November 23, 2007. She was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters. Mitzi is survived by her husband, Richard; their children: Rick and Nancy King, Mike King, Julie VanBelkum, Karen Stephens, Holly and Joe Combs; grandchildren Adam King, April (Joe) Sobczak, Charles and Chad VanBelkum, Kailee and Kelsie Stephens, Kristi (Todd) Roberts, Britney, Joey and Brooke Combs; great grandson, Aiden King; step-grandchildren Stephanie and Carla Turner; several sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews. A service to celebrate Dorothy’s life will be held on Monday, November 26 at 11 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE where relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family on Sunday from 2-4 PM. Interment in Blythefield Memory Gardens. For those who wish, memorial contributions to either the Alzheimer’s Association or Van Andel Pavilion of Holland Home are appreciated. Please visit Mitzi’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a favorite memory or sign the online register.