June 12, 1921 — April 16, 2015

Dorothy J. Hauch, 93, of Dowagiac, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, April 16, 2015, at Lakeland Hospital St. Joseph.

Born June 12, 1921, to Paul & Anna (Barfeltz) Pagel, she was a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities, before moving to Forest Glen Assisted Living in Dowagiac. Dorothy was their fourth child and the surviving sibling of five children.

She was preceded in death by her Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, J. Albert “Al” Hauch; parents; two sisters, Lucille Radies and Marian Mach; and two brothers, Norman and Alvin Pagel; her youngest sister Marian, passed away April 5, 2015.

Dorothy died the day after what would have been the 71st anniversary of her marriage. Dorothy met Al in 1942, during World War II, while working at Nineteen Hundred, the forerunner to Whirlpool Corporation. One of Al’s favorite stories was that before he asked her out on a date, and after watching her from afar for three months at work, he told a co-worker it was Dorothy he was going to marry someday. They were married on April 15, 1944, at Zion Evangelical Church, where they were both members for much of their life.

Dorothy and Al were the proud parents of David (Mary) Hauch of Afton, Minnesota, and Vickie Phillipson (Ken Belew) of Dowagiac; two granddaughters, Laura (Jon) Nelson of Woodbury, Minnesota and Karen Hauch (Jason Schlei) of Rothschild, Wisconsin; and two great-granddaughters, Lily and Hannah Nelson.

When Al was diagnosed with tuberculosis and hospitalized for the first seven years of their marriage, Dorothy moved back home with her parents and worked fulltime while raising David, their first-born. In later years, when Vickie was born, Dorothy enjoyed what she called her early retirement, becoming a full-time homemaker.

Dorothy and Al were avid backyard gardeners, Al in the vegetable garden and Dorothy in her flower beds. She canned and froze much of what they grew. Her favorite flowers were pink peonies and roses. She was often able to grow a new rose bush from a single cutting.

Dorothy enjoyed years of sewing, knitting and crocheting. She was also known for her home baked apple pies, cheese cake and holiday hams.

Together Al and Dorothy enjoyed traveling and for many years they owned a travel trailer and later a motorhome. She was an avid collector of more than 100 novelty salt and pepper shakers, many of which represented vacations they had taken. Throughout later years, she continued to enjoy walking and was active until her death.

Memorials may be made to the activity fund at Forest Glen Assisted Living where Dorothy made her home since 2008. The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation to Tammy Haner, director of Forest Glen, and her entire staff, who cared for her in later years.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Wednesday, April 22, at 11 a.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Those wishing to sign Dorothy’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.