Obituary of Dorothy Elizabeth Eva Stahl

Dorothy Elizabeth Eva Venzke was born in the City of Monroe, Michigan on Saturday, November 27, 1920. Her parents, Herman A. Venzke, a carpenter and Augusta Wilhelmina (Frank) Venzke, business woman, struggled to bring their young family through the depression years. Dorothy attended Monroe schools and during her senior year of high school had the starring role in the school musical then graduating in 1938. She continued refining her secretarial skills throughout her career by taking classes and attending seminars, retiring computer literate. During World War II she waited, “kept her power dry,” worked as school secretary for Harold Rapson at Lincoln School and was surprised on her birthday in 1944 when Sherwood William Stahl returned from India where he had been stationed piloting transport planes to China, Burma, and India with a ring and a request. They were married on December 4 and moved to Florida where he would fly transport on the South American Run. Dorothy one of a new generation of women who in addition to caring for the needs of her husband and daughter, worked outside the home because she enjoyed it! Because she was highly skilled, she worked responsible, secretarial jobs for Greenings Nursery, Consolidated Packaging, and La Z Boy. She was a long time member of Christ Lutheran Church, enjoyed singing in the church choir, reading for services, and participating in women’s Bible Study groups. She loved music and was a soloist for weddings, funerals, and family entertainments. She also found time and energy to participate in the Community Chorale. She was a reader and was never without a book. She enjoyed researching history and spent countless hours studying family genealogy. Dorothy E. Stahl, age 95 died in the early hours of a stormy, Saturday morning, August 13, 2016 at Eaton County Health and Rehabilitation Service (Hospice) in Charlotte, Michigan according to her wishes. Because she loved others first, Dorothy was well loved and leaves her daughter, Sherleen Stahl Harris and grandson, Daniel Nathan Harris, as well as her sister, Patricia (Venzke) McKenzie, and many nieces and nephews in mourning. Dorothy loved family reunions and we trust that she is even now reunited with her husband and brothers, Howard Venzke, Elroy Venzke, Alvin Venzke and sisters, Louisa (Venzke) Tobin, Louwellia (Venzke) Stamm, Ricka (Venzke) Frimark. Friends may gather from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 1016 at Merkle Funeral Service, 2442 North Monroe Street (734) 384-5185. She will lie in state from 10:00 a.m. until a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at Christ Lutheran Church, 225 East Elm Avenue. Reverend Dennis Bux, pastor of the church, will officiate and procession will follow to Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle for burial, followed by lunch at the church. Online guests may leave words of comfort and inspiration or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com and then selecting “Add a Memory”.