Dorothy "Dottie" Kamp

The life of a party, Dorothy Dottie Kamp enjoyed life and all it had to offer. Whether dancing up a storm, shopping, traveling, or dining out, Dorothy was sure to have a great time. Outgoing and personable, she was a friend to many, especially to many beloved cats and dogs she provided a home to over the years. A giving woman, Dottie treasured children and was loving towards them. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories that will be forever etched in the hearts of her family. She will be dearly missed. The 1930s began as a difficult time in the history of the United States. The New Year ushered in yet more tales of hardship and struggle for many as the Great Depression had a tight grip on the economy. Through this adversity, families drew close even while their strength and perseverance was being tested. Hope was on the horizon for Emil Fethke and Margaret (Sander) Walker of Muskegon, Michigan when they welcomed the birth of their first child, Dorothy, on July 25, 1930. Dorothys father worked with the gas company and her mother was a homemaker. The eldest of eventually five children, Dorothy, or Dottie as she was called, welcomed younger siblings Delores, Raymond, John and Fred. She helped out with her younger brothers and sister, and the family loved picnicking together. Family times as Dottie knew them were forever changed when her father sadly passed away when she was only nine years old. It was a very difficult time for them. Dottie enjoyed bowling with friends and loved to dance. An outgoing and friendly gal, she enjoyed many great times. In time her favorite pastime came to include boys. She graduated from Muskegon High School and shortly after high school she met a young military fellow named David, they were married and had three wonderful children; Peggy, Paul and David. Now in her late twenties, Dottie had no other choice but to move back to Muskegon. Before long she found a job with the Westran Company where she worked as a bookkeeper. To further her education and to develop her skills, Dottie attended classes at Baker Business School and was thrilled when at last she graduated and received her degree. When she was not working or going to school, Dottie spent much of her free time hanging out with friends and found enjoyment water skiing. In fact, she even purchased her own boat. The lakeshore town boasted many opportunities for boating, along with many dances and bowling activities for Dottie to enjoy. One night while out on the town with friends Dottie caught the eye of a handsome man named Paul Kamp. After striking up a conversation and enjoying a few dances, the two found that they really hit it off. Following a short courtship, they were soon married on October 25, 1963. It wasnt long before they welcomed the birth of their son, Todd. Although Paul had four children from his first marriage, he and Dottie made sure to always include Wayne, Sally, Greg and Steve in their lives. Paul supported the family with his work at the S.D. Warren Paper Company, better known as the paper mill, while Dottie continued with her work at Westran. Paul and Todd quite often meet up with Dottie at the Hartshorne Marine to enjoy lunch together. As members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Dottie enjoyed serving on the Altar Guild there. Many memorable times were spent picnicking on Lake Michigan beaches together as a family. Their home on Moon Street in Lakeside set the stage for their early years together until they moved to the Dunes Trailer Park. Then Dottie noticed a house up for sale across the street that she absolutely loved. Before long, the house was theirs and together they made wonderful and lasting memories there with family get-togethers. They remained in their beloved family home for the rest of their days together. Never one to cook for just the three of them, the Kamps frequently enjoyed a good meal out. Friday nights were reserved as family pizza night, and then Dottie and Paul were usually off to VFW 446, or the Muskegon Eagles where they were longtime members. As Todd grew older and began high school, Paul and Dottie continued to be very involved and supportive of him. They attended his school functions and enjoyed watching him run on the cross country track team. Paul and Dottie especially supported Todd when he joined the Air Force. One year their family hosted an exchange student named Stephan and it proved to be a worthwhile learning experience for each of them. After Todd's graduation Dottie, Paul and Todd paid a visit to Germany to see Stephane and his family. With her fun loving and outgoing nature, Dottie was truly a vivacious woman who was comfortable with herself. She was the life of most parties, and one time, upon arriving late for a bridal shower, Dottie suddenly burst through the door and exclaimed, Here I am, you lucky people! That was Dottie, and everyone loved her for it. Throughout their life together, Paul and Dottie shared a love for Golden Retrievers and had acquired several throughout the years. When Dottie retired from Westran after twenty years, it was hard to keep her down. She began working at The Mill Inn Restaurant across the street from the paper mill. After her time there, she went on to work serving lunches for the Mona Shores School District, a position she truly loved because she had such a great time with the kids there. When her children began families of their own, Dottie was exceptionally excited because she could now share her love with grandchildren. Both Paul and Dottie loved visiting the military bases where their family lived, but the best part of each trip was spending time with the grandkids. They also began traveling extensively when Paul retired in 1990. They visited Hawaii as well as Branson, Missouri. They also enjoyed taking in the sights while traveling and camping in their travel trailer. Her love for shopping kept Dottie busy, and she even dragged Paul with her a time or two. Sadly, Paul passed away quite suddenly in 2003. Even though she had many friends to enjoy time with or to go shopping with, Dottie was never quite the same after his death. Several years later in 2007, Dorothy was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease. It was the beginning of a gradual, downward spiral for her. Sadly, on Thursday, December 31, 2009, Dorothy Dottie L. Kamp died at the age of 79. She will be truly missed and fondly remembered as an outgoing shopaholic and as a faithful restaurant Queen in Muskegon county. Most importantly, she will be remembered as a vibrant, giving, and loving woman. She is survived by her daughter, Peggy Connon of Westland, MI; sons, Paul Garrison of Howell and Todd (Marie) Kamp, both of Muskegon; 20 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; her brothers, Ray (Yvonne) Fethke, John (Sandy) Pfenning, and Fred (Zona) Pfenning; stepchildren, Wayne (June) Kamp, Greg (Diane) Kamp, Steve (Cindy) Kamp, and Sally (Dave) Geyer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Margaret; husband, Paul in 2003; son, David Garrison and sister, Delores. Friends can visit Dotties family at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home-Muskegon on Sunday from 6-8 PM and again on Monday, one hour prior to the service from 12-1 PM. A service to celebrate her life will take place at the funeral home on Monday, January 4, 2009 at 1:00 PM. Contributions in her memory may be directed to Harbor Hospice. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a favorite memory of Dottie or to sign her online guest book.