Dorothy "Dottie" Jean Van Farowe

Our beloved mother, Dottie Van Farowe, passed away of natural causes at the age of 97 on August 10, 2026, here on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, where she spent most of her adult life. Born April 28, 1929, in Zeeland, Michigan, she lived a full and active life.

Dottie was president of the Athletic Sisters in her high school class of 1947 and continued to be very active in sporting activities throughout her life, including playing softball, teaching physical education, and coaching basketball at Oak Park. She was an avid golfer and was known to have hit a hole-in-one. She continued to compete in senior sports into her nineties and was a high scorer in many bowling leagues, both here and at her Florida winter home.

As an OB nurse for many years at Munson Medical Center, many of you may have met Dottie for the first time when you were born. Later, she became involved in brownies, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts, continuing her commitment to serving and encouraging young people.

Retirement was filled with volunteer work and traveling around the country with her husband in their RV, visiting missions, Bible camps, and churches through RVICS (Retired Volunteers in Christ’s Service). She was also active in Red Hat and other local social groups and, later, in retirement communities. Dottie had a talent for bringing people together and was never one to shy away from getting others involved in group performances.

Dottie and her husband, George, met while attending Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where she graduated as a certified teacher and registered nurse. They were married on Saturday afternoon, August 17, 1957, in Zeeland, Michigan, and soon moved to Traverse City. There, they became members during the founding of Faith Reformed Church and cherished the many close relationships they developed there over the years.

Dottie was the last of her generation in her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; sisters Violet and Rose; brother Ken; and parents, Carl Oscar Winstrom and Cornelia Wilhelmina Winstrom (Meyer).

She is survived by her three children, Brian Van Farowe, Beth (Van Farowe) and William Meade, and Bruce and Pattra (Silakhom) Van Farowe; six grandchildren, Kendel, Chris, Tim, Marya, Adriaan, and Din; and six great-grandchildren, Vince, Kira, Genevieve, Ada, Ezra, and Liam.

There will be no service.