Dorothy Margaret Matzinger

Dorothy Margaret Matzinger, 89, of Traverse City passed away Monday, May 30, 2016 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Dorothy was born on Monday, January 10, 1927 to Frederick and Mary (Puffpaff) Jackson in Lansing along with her twin sister Betty Laura. She attended Lansing schools and graduated from Lansing Eastern High School. She went to work at the Michigan State Police headquarter in East Lansing.

On June 28, 1947 she married Herman A. Kelbert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Kelbert in Lansing. She was widowed on December 28, 1948.

She continued working at the State Police in the Fire Marshal division. Dorothy was active in her church and also in a youth group entitled United Christian Fellowship. It was while she was enjoying this fellowship that she met Rex A. Matzinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Matzinger. They were married on June 14, 1952 and moved to Romeo, Michigan where they raised their family. They enjoyed 59 ½ years of marriage together before Rex died on February 11, 2011.

Dorothy was a charter member of Beta Sigma Phi in Romeo. She was active in the PTA and school fairs, plus church activities at St. Johns Lutheran Church.

After being very busy with five children, she started taking classes at Macomb Community College and finished her college classes at Northwestern Michigan College. She graduated with honors and was again a charter member, this time of Chi Theta Kappa, a national honors sorority. At the age of 65, she received her diploma!

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Rex, her son Matthew; a sister Helen Deason and brother Arthur.

She is survived by her children, Kathleen (Mark) Van Poppelen of Rochester, Ellen (Buford) Pike of Greensboro, NC, Carolyn Matzinger (Ron Marshall) of Petoskey and Joanna (Paul) Van Raaphorst of Rochester. Also surviving is her daughter in law, Karen Matzinger Dancey (former wife of Matthew) of McComb; ; 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and her twin sister Betty Sholl of The Dalles, OR.

A time to visit with Dorothy's family will take place from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday, June 3 at The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A service celebrating her life will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 4 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1896 Rogers Road, Grawn (Interlochen) with Pastor Jason Bauer officiating. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery at Long Lake.

Dorothy had asked the she be remembered through memorial contributions to Gideon's International, P. O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 or online at www.gideons.org .