Dorothea Dutlof

Dorothea (known as Dorle and Doris) Dutlof, 97, of St. Joseph, passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, at Caretel Inns of Lakeland.   A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, February 5, 2018, at Washington Avenue Church of God, 4051 Washington Ave., St. Joseph.  Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. prior to the service.  Private burial will take place at a later date in Riverview Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Caring Circle Hospice, 4025 Healthpark Lane, St.Joseph.  Those wishing to send a condolence or sign the guest book online may do so at www.stark-menchinger.com.   Dorothea was born on January 23, 1921, to Fritz and Anna Dietrich in Marburg, Germany.  She worked in the office of the City Hall and was also a saleslady in a china store and also a sporting goods store.  After WWII she met Gottfried Dutlof, the love of her life, in Marburg.  She got married to Gottfried in 1949 and together they had one daughter, Gabriele. In 1956 she and her daughter moved to St. Joseph to join Gottfried. The early years in St. Joseph she worked at VM in the factory and then was a homemaker.   Dorothea enjoyed listening to her music, reading, and doing German crossword puzzles to keep her mind sharp.  Most of all she loved spending time with her family, walking with Gottfried on the bluff and Silver Beach, and loved traveling with Gottfried to Germany and other countries in Europe and in the United States.   She is survived by her daughter, Gabriele (Tom) Blank of Coloma, nephew Lutz Zils and niece Inge Lamcha both of Germany, niece-in-law Ursula Henkel and great-niece Debra Akins both of Stevensville, great-niece Anissa DeSanctis of St. Joseph, and very special son-in-law Tom Blank of Coloma. She was preceded in death by her parents Fritz and Anna Dietrich, husband Gottfried, nephew Bodo Henkel of Stevensville, 3 bothers and two sisters of Germany, and 3 nephews and 1 niece of Germany.