Dorothy Louise Franzen

Dorothy L. Franzen of Portage, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Upjohn Community Center. Dorothy was born in St. Louis, MI on her grandmother’s farm. She was the only child of George and Louise Sefcik, and she was proud of her Czech and Bohemian heritage. Dorothy grew up on the South Side of Chicago in an area where immigrants strove to live in Chicago bungalows. Her first date was a group date in 1939, where all the girls and boys went to see the new movie “The Wizard of Oz” with Judy Garland. She graduated from Lindblom High School and at age 16, she went on to attend the University of Chicago, where she was enrolled in the pre-med program and received a Bachelor of Science degree. She never finished her degree in medicine. She went on instead to get married and had 6 children, before divorcing in 1962. Dorothy received a fellowship in 1964 and went back to school at Northern Illinois University, and in 1968, received her doctorate. She moved her family to Kalamazoo in 1968 where she began a successful teaching career on the faculty of Western Michigan University. She received Western’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1971. In 1990, after her retirement, she married an old friend, Bud Franzen, and moved to California. They literally travelled the world until Bud died in 2000. Upon Bud’s death, she moved back to Kalamazoo to be near her children. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son. She is survived by her remaining 5 children and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom loved her dearly and miss her every day. Memorial contributions may be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A memorial service will be held 10 am Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49008 (269) 3432-6156. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net