Dorothy Soltys

In as much as she gave, Dorothy Soltys was loved abundantly and cherished in the hearts of many. A vibrant woman, she found joy and contentment in her faith, family and many good friends. Life held many blessings for Dorothy. She was thankful for much, and loved life, especially with those she held dear by her side. Dorothy's story began during a decade of advancement and struggle. While the U.S. was advancing as a world power, troops were heavily engaged in World War I overseas which weighed heavy on the hearts of all. On the home front, Charlie Chaplin was becoming a household name, and the invention of the light switch intrigued many. Yet on March 25, 1916 in the bustling city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Henry and Ella (Johnson) Hansen found reason to celebrate when they welcomed the birth of their little girl, Dorothy Marie. As the eldest, Dorothy was later joined by her younger sisters, Beverly "Bunny" and Helen. Her father supported their family as a tool maker while her mother, a homemaker, remained at home with Dorothy and her sisters. As a young child, Dorothy and her family moved to Muskegon, Michigan, settling into a home in the Jackson Hill neighborhood. She attended the Muskegon Public Schools, and enjoyed a typical childhood for the times. As a young girl, Dorothy learned to play the piano which she enjoyed throughout her long life. Dorothy developed many good friendships during her school days, especially while attending Muskegon High School. In fact, Dorothy and 11 of her classmates went on to form a bridge club and met monthly for over 60 years. They loved their time together and always looked forward to seeing one another. During her youth, Dorothy loved to dance and listen to the sounds of the big bands at the local dance pavilions with friends. After graduating in 1934, Dorothy began working at a local dry cleaners for a time. She went on to further her education, and became a dental assistant for Dr.s Jack and Dan Mixer DDS. She loved her work, particularly when she became quite enamored with one of their patients, Joseph Soltys. The feeling was mutual, and before long Dorothy and Joseph began a dating relationship. After falling deeply in love, they were blessed in marriage on November 19, 1949 before a congregation of family and friends at Central United Methodist Church in Muskegon. As husband and wife, they settled into a small house on Lakeshore Drive in nearby Grand Haven, Michigan where they soon began a family of their own. Jane came along in 1950, and Susan completed their family in 1952. While Joe worked as an accountant for Keller Tool, Dorothy remained at home to take care of their girls. She made a good home for Joe and the kids, and personified what it meant to be a loving and attentive wife and mother. She loved her daughters deeply, and became very involved and supportive in their school and extra activities. She served as a 4H leader and also as a Brownie troop leader. In 1963, Dorothy and her family moved to Pottawatomi Bayou where numerous memories were shared over the 46 years Dorothy called this special place, home. Dorothy and the girls enjoyed fun-filled days together at the beach during the warm months of summer. As a family they enjoyed many memorable vacations and road trips visiting relatives in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Dorothy was a wonderful cook and an excellent seamstress. She made wedding dresses for both of her daughters, and some of the bridesmaid dresses, too. Her talent in this area was not limited to clothing as she did upholstery work, as well. Faith was an integral part of the Soltys household. They attended the Methodist Church in Grand Haven where Dorothy sang in the choir and was a member of various circles. She loved getting together with the other church ladies to help make quilts, and her involvement with the Order of the Eastern Star. For fun, Dorothy and Joe liked going to square dances and took in some polka dancing, too. She even made several outfits for a few of their special dances. When Joe taught her to play golf, Dorothy fell in love with the game. They were members of the Grand Haven Golf Club where Dorothy played with a ladies league. She also played on a golf league through church. With the girls grown enjoying lives of their own, Dorothy and Joe spent their winters in Port Charlotte, Florida after retiring. They loved playing golf and socializing with the many friends they made there. At times it was difficult being away from family, but they thoroughly enjoyed this time in their lives together. Just as devoted to her grandchildren as she was to her own two daughters, Dorothy loved being a grandmother. She always found something special to bake when they came to visit, and was sure to have candy in special places around the house to spoil the grandkids with. It proved to be a difficult time for Dorothy when her daughter, Susan died in 1998 and when her husband's death followed in 2003. These days were hard on Dorothy, but she continued her involvement at United Methodist Church of the Dunes where she was a longtime member and good times shared with friends. Well into her later years, Dorothy continued to live on her own, and even drove to her weekly hair appointments until she was 92! When the years began to take their toll, Dorothy moved in with her daughter, Jane in Rockford, Michigan. She remained with Jane until requiring more care than her daughter could provide. Dorothy went to live in assisted living at Sunrise of Cascade in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she was quite happy and content. Eventually, Alzheimer's Disease caught up with her, and as her body began to fail, Dorothy passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at the age of 98. Ever the loving wife, dedicated mother and grandmother, Dorothy Soltys added much to the lives of those she touched. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and it was always a joy to share her company. Dorothy loved fully and lived completely at every opportunity, filling the lives of those around her with ways all her own. For these things and more, she will be lovingly remembered and missed. SURVIVORS: Daughter, Jane Ann (Gary) Skeels of Rockford, MI; grandchildren, Matthew Skeels of TN, Samuel Skeels of Grand Haven and Andrea (Dustin) Small of TN; great-granddaughter, Zoey Faulkner; and several nieces. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph in 2003 and daughter, Susan Jo Carlson in 1998. SERVICE: Saturday, June 7, 2014, 1:00 PM with visitation one hour prior to the service at the Clock ChapelGrand Haven with Rev. Eldon Eldred officiating. MEMORIAL: United Methodist Church of the Dunes or Hospice of Michigan. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or to sign Dorothy's online guest book. Clock Funeral Home- Grand Haven.