Dorothy Morenz

Faith and family are two words that come to mind when reflecting on the woman who Dorothy Morenz was. She was sacrificial in nature, devoted to her family, and equipped with the desire to bring others to share in the faith she held so dear. Dorothy called many places “home” throughout her lifetime, but no matter where she was, she embraced each day and made it her own, leaving behind fingerprints made by tender hands upon the hearts of all who were within her reach.

The year 1924 was enveloped in prosperity for many Americans as times were good, and business was booming in order to meet peacetime needs. It was also in this same year that Andrew and Olive (Gillam) Reith, of Nekoosa, Wisconsin, were pleased to announce the birth of their fourth child, their daughter Dorothy, on November 4th. Born as the last child in her family, Dorothy’s father was a railroad worker while her mother was a homemaker who cared for their active family. At some point during her formative years, Dorothy moved with her family to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she continued to attend local schools. It was during her younger years that Dorothy’s heart became rooted in faith as her family was members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids.

After graduating from Davis Tech High School, big changes were just on the horizon for Dorothy. During the early forties, she traveled to Hammond, Indiana, to visit her cousin, Ed Gillam, who was good friends with a dashing young man named William (Bill) Morenz. At that time, Bill was working in a steel mill in the Hammond area and upon his introduction to the young Dorothy, there was an immediate attraction between them, and their hearts became forever intertwined after their very first date. The couple continued to date while living apart, seeing each other when they could, but they decided it was too expensive for Bill to continue driving to Grand Rapids, so they got married in 1944 in the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hammond, Indiana.

During the early forties, our nation was deeply entrenched in WWII, leaving Americans back home to deal with rationing on many goods, and factories that were geared towards supporting the war effort, resulting in sparse incomes for numerous families. Dorothy and Bill’s new family was no exception, and so rather take a honeymoon, the couple was married on a weekend and then went back to work on Monday. They settled into an apartment in Hammond where they soon started their family. They were blessed with their daughter Candace in 1945, who was later followed by their son David, in 1952.

With a desire to be closer to Dorothy’s family, the Morenz family moved to Grand Rapids where they settled in the city, and Bill found work in a local factory. Their family joined Immanuel Lutheran Church where they were actively involved – Dorothy in the Ladies Guild and the nursery as well. She also worked in the school that was affiliated with their church, and where their children received their education too.

Around the year 1969, Bill was transferred during his employment with General Motors, and their family moved to Madison Heights, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It didn’t take long for them to settle in, joining a local Lutheran church where they again became actively involved. Dorothy was very supportive of the church’s mission and felt compelled to participate in order to help the church grow.

There were so many memories the Morenz family made together while Candace and David were growing up. Many of these memories centered on vacations, and several of their summers were spent in the nation’s capital, often during cherry blossom time. At times they also vacationed in California during the summers, allowing Dorothy to satiate her love for travel. It didn’t really matter where her family was vacationing, Dorothy always had a way of finding new and exciting things to take in on each and every trip. Dorothy was also a talented seamstress who enjoyed her craft and made most of her daughter’s clothes herself. Dorothy always made sure that she kept abreast of the latest fashions, purchasing patterns to make Candace clothes that were popular at the time. Handmade curtains and drapes often adorned the windows in Dorothy’s homes as well.

During the years that followed Bill’s retirement, new doors of opportunity opened for Dorothy that she was excited to walk through. The couple moved back to Grand Rapids and settled in a condo they purchased in Kentwood, and again actively became involved in the church they joined, St. Mark’s Lutheran. Dorothy and Bill also used this time to travel extensively, taking many road trips throughout the United States, but they also traveled abroad to destinations such as Australia, Hawaii, England, Egypt, Alaska, Canada, and South America. During the winter months, the couple could be found in Mission, Texas, where they enjoyed the warm, sunny weather for many years. Dorothy also became interested in painting during her later years, creating numerous pictures. She was able to sell some of her masterpieces, but for the most part, they were for the enjoyment of her family who proudly displayed her work in their homes. When Dorothy wanted to relax, she enjoyed reading novels by Agatha Christie or listening to big band music, especially Glenn Miller’s work.

About two years ago, Dorothy developed dementia, and although Bill cared for her in their home for a time, she eventually needed more care than he was able to provide. She then entered into a facility in November of 2008, at which time her health began rapidly declining.

Dorothy Morenz was a delightful woman who will be forever cherished for the ways in which she touched the hearts and lives of those around her. She was a loving and supportive wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved both her family and her church dearly. Dorothy’s tender touch and compassionate heart always made her home a haven for her family no matter where she lived, and her magnificent pieces of art were an outpouring of the extraordinary woman that Dorothy was on the inside. She will be dearly missed.

Dorothy A. Morenz of Walker died on Saturday, August 15, 2009. Dorothy’s family includes her husband, of 65 years, Arthur William (Bill) Morenz; her children: Candace (William) Norder, David (Christine) Morenz; her grandchildren: Douglas (Paula) Norder, Bethany Tuffelmire, Stacey (Joe) Herrick, Graham Morenz, Peter Morenz; her great grandchildren: Caleb, Harrison and Easton; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Morenz reposes at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt and Shawmut – Grand Rapids, MI, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. N.W., where relatives and friends may meet her family Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. and during which a time of memorial will be held at 8:30 p.m. Private interment will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can share a favorite memory or photo, sign the online register, or make a memorial contribution to Spectrum Health Hospice.