Dorothea Ellen Phillps Hohndorf 

July 13, 1929  - May 24, 2020 

Dorothae Ellen Hohndorf, age 90, born July 13, 1929 in Macy, Nebraska, died on May 24, 2020 at Barton Woods Assisted Living, Freeland, MI.

She was preceeded in death by her husband of 49 years, Alvin Hohndorf, daughter, Beverly Gerboth, son, Jerald Hohndorf, grandson, Joseph Hicks, and great grandson, Caleb Kroeger.   Dorothae is survived by three children, Barbara Wood of Saginaw, MI, Wayne Hohndorf of Omaha, NE and Darlene Hicks of Brownwood, Texas, 30 grand children and 27 great grand children.

As a toddler, Dorothae lived on an Indian reservation in Chief Little Bull's house. Her father dug wells for the Indians. She gradutated from Decatur High School in 1947, received a teaching diploma from Wayne State College and graduated from Grace Bible Institute in 1954.

Dorothae enjoyed volunteering. As a young adult she volunteered with Vacation Bible School and Camp Ministries at Decatur Methodist Church. Before marriage, Dorothae taught in a one room school house. She went on to teach school on a mission trip to Cuba in 1956. She taught Sunday School at Grace Baptist Church. After moving to Benson area, she was an active member of Temple Baptist Church of Omaha, Nebraska for much of her life, where she volunteered in the nursery, taught Pioneer Girls and served as an Awana leader for many years. She also hosted an after school JOY Bible club in her home.  She moved to Michigan in 2010, where she attended and served at Immanuel Bible Church. Dorothae had such a strong faith in God and it showed through every aspect of her life. In her final years, she could be heard singing God's praises even as she struggled to speak.

Dorothae enjoyed traveling to all 50 States and 12 countries. During the summer, she loved to go camping with her family. She liked going to garage sales and she was a big Nebraska Huskers football fan. She organized a couponing group in her community because she was an expert at saving money and helping those in need. But she most enjoyed spending her spare time in the garden or her screen house watching the world pass by and watching her grandchildren play.

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Information taken from the May 25, 1997 Decatur Alumni Banquet booklet

Spouse:  Alvin

Children:  5  Beverly Gerboth, Barbara Wood, Jerad, Wayne and Darlene.

Grandchildren:  14 and 1 Grandson-in law

I attended Wayne State Teacher's College for one year and received a Third Grade Elementary Teacher's Certificate.  I taught school near Wakefield, NE for one year and in a school for missionary children in Cuba for one semester.

I graduated from Grace College of the Bible in Omaha, NE in 1954 and received my degree in Christian Education and Evangelical Teacher's Certificate. 

Alvin and I were married on June 1, 1952.  My husband also attended Grace College of the Bible in Omaha.  He worked at the Kellogg's Cereal Company in Omaha for 38 years.

My life has always revolved around children.  I enjoy spending a lot of time with our 14 grandchildren.  I was also leader in Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and various church groups, including Pioneer Girls, Awanas, Joy Clubs and Child Evangelism.

We enjoyed camping and traveling as a family.  We covered all 50 states, Mexico, most of Canada and 8 countries in Europe.  Some of our children have expanded their trips to 12 more additional countries.