Dorothy L. DeGroff passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 21, 2011. She was 92.

Dorothy was born in Decatur, Ill. on Sept. 9, 1918. She married her childhood sweetheart, Wayne, on Nov. 20, 1941 on Roosevelt’s Thanksgiving. The couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2006. Dorothy attended Davis Business College in Toledo, Ohio, and later worked for several large law firms in the area. She worked for Chesterton High School as attendance secretary and also at Porter Bank, before retiring in 1982. She was a member of the Chesterton United Methodist Church, a former Eastern Star member, and a Junior Women’s club member. She was an avid bowler for over 40 years, an avid reader, and belonged to a pinochle club for many years. Dorothy was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 2007.

She is survived by her children Debbie Fieffer of Valparaiso, Darla (husband Roland) Lickus of Williamsburg, Mich., Doug DeGroff of Chesterton, and Dawn (Stephen) Heckard of Valparaiso; eight grandchildren Melinda (Scott) Church, Thomas (wife Tracy) Fieffer II, Bruce Fieffer, Stacy Kuypers, Todd (Stephanie) Lickus, Megan DeGroff, Seth Heckard and Jordan (Megan) Heckard; and 11 great-grandchildren Ben White, Ashley White, Steven Stout, Christopher Stout, Elisha Fieffer, Joshua Fieffer, Bruce Fieffer II, Tatum Walstra, Tommy Walstra, Allyson Kuypers, and Carter Lickus.

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with funeral services at 1 p.m. with Pastor Chris Newman-Jacobs officiating at the White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd Street, Chesterton. Burial will follow in Chesterton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Chesterton United Methodist Church or to Pines Village Assisted Living or VNA Hospice, both in Valparaiso.

Posted 4/22/2011