Dorothy M. Birkholz, age 81, of 20927 Main St., Collins, died Sunday morning,
Dec. 8, 2002, at St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay, due to complications from
kidney disease. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13,
2002 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Clarks Mills. Officiating at the Mass
of Christian Burial will be the Rev. Mark Falcone with burial to follow at
St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery, Reedsville.
Dorothy was born Feb. 15, 1921 in Clarks Mills, daughter of the late Edward
and Bertha Riederer Staudinger. On June 5, 1943, she married Howard Birkholz
at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Clarks Mills. The couple would have celebrated
their 60th wedding anniversary in 2003.
Dorothy and Howard owned and operated Birkholz Food Market in Collins for 48
years and she was also a licensed beautician. She was a member of American
Legion Post #199 Auxiliary, Reedsville, Collins Senior Center, served as a
board member for Manitowoc County Aging Resource Center and was a charter
member of St. Mary's Christian Mothers, Reedsville. Dorothy loved watching
basketball and baseball games both on TV and in person, especially when her
grandchildren were participating. She was an avid Milwaukee Braves/Brewer fan
attending games at both the old and new Milwaukee County Stadium. Dorothy loved
to play many different card games and put together jigsaw puzzles, sharing many
happy evenings with her family. She also made quilts for each of her grand-
children. She enjoyed many happy times traveling to many different places with
her husband and family, especially to Florida.
Survivors include her loving husband and full time nurse: Howard Birkholz,
Collins; two daughters and a son-in-law: Deanna and Paul Wallander, Manitowoc;
Pat Henson, Elgin, Ill.; son and daughter-in-law: Bill and Debbie Birkholz,
Cato; seven grandchildren: Gwyn, Brett and Bryan Wallander; Jason and Josh
Henson; Jill (Matt) Wilson; Todd Birkholz; two sisters and brothers-in-law:
Ruth "Boots" and Jim Stradal, Branch; Joyce and John Rohde, Whitelaw; two
brothers and sisters-in-law: Ed and Eileen Staudinger, Paul and Corrine
Staudinger, all of Clarks Mills; and the family dog, Rico. She is further
survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in
death by a daughter: Katie Birkholz Espat; two sisters and brothers-in-law:
Gladys and Adolph Bergel, Bernice and Edgar Glaeser; and one brother and sister-
in-law: Leonard and Caroline Staudinger.
The family will greet relatives and
friends at The Pfeffer Funeral Home & Cremation Care Center, Manitowoc, on
Thursday evening, Dec. 12, 2002 from 4 to 8 p.m. and also at St. Mary's Catholic
Church, Clarks Mills, on Friday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of service
at 11 a.m.
Manitowoc Herald Times Tuesday, December 10, 2002 pg. A3