Dorothy Theresa Kalsow, 86, of Hamilton Communities in New Carlisle, IN, died Tuesday, March 17, 2015.
She was born Nov. 3, 1928, in Mishawaka, IN, to Philemon and Bertha (Van Haver) Ardeel.
Dorothy was a homemaker and later worked at the Ruth Sabin Home in LaPorte from 1979 until her retirement in 2003. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and a volunteer at St. John Lutheran Church Thrift Shop. Dorothy was a wonderful cook and enjoyed decorating for the holidays.
On Oct. 22, 1949, in LaPorte, she married Donald W. Kalsow, who preceded her in death on July 16, 2013.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Kali Kalsow; brother, George Ardeel; and sister, Julia Wozniak.
Dorothy is survived by three daughters, Janis (John) Sauter of South Bend, IN, Judy (Keith) Johnson of LaPorte and Jennifer (Ross) Olling of LaPorte; three sons, Larry (Diane) Kalsow of Newport, RI, Dennis (Ella) Kalsow of LaPorte and Steve Kalsow of LaPorte; 14 grandchildren, Rachel Enright, Natalie Kiff, Lindsay Wathen, Shanon, Jason, and Tony Barnhart, Ryan, Stephanie, Sean, Joshua, Lucas and Karli Kalsow, and Ashley and Austin Olling; 18 great-grandchildren, Dakin, Willow, Julia, Emma, Colin, Kenna, Gavin, Landon, Wesley, Cora, Lyla, Vivian, Jaiden, Gabby, Dylan, Cohen, Alaina, and Brenden; three sisters, Martha Lewis of Lakeland, FL, Jean (Charles) Herrold of LaPorte and Sylvia (James) Reed of Clifton, TN; brother, Eugene (Carol) Ardeel of Lizton, IN; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Thursday, March 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday, March 20, from 10 to 11 a.m. A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, LaPorte.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, 111 Kingsbury Ave., LaPorte, IN 46350; or the Alzheimer’s Association, 15 Franklin St., Valparaiso, IN 46383.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.