Dorothy Caroline Thieroff nee Leaders

Dorothy C. (Leaders) Thieroff, of Defiance, passed away Saturday evening, November 2 ^nd in the care of the Defiance CHP Hospice Center and family.

She was born on January 28, 1920 in Henry County, Ohio to Frederick and Grace (Keehn) Leaders.  Dorothy attended the one room Kelly School through eighth grade,  and later  graduated with honors from Holgate High School class of 1937.  During this time she wrote personal news for the Henry County Review, a weekly Henry County paper, and also helped her family on the farm.

On April 7, 1945, Dorothy married Elmer Thieroff at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Holgate, Ohio while he was home on furlough from the army.  Dorothy chose to be a stay-at-home mom who helped with farming, but also enjoyed contesting, gardening, canning and sewing for her family.  She attended the many activities in which the children were involved.

After the children grew up, Dorothy and Elmer traveled extensively, visiting them as they attended colleges and moved to other states.  They faithfully attended St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and dined out nearly every Sunday jokingly known as "Men's day of cooking".

Later in life they moved together from the family farm to a house in Defiance where she continued to pursue her love of flower gardens and a new passion for watercolor painting.  Throughout the years, she gifted her children and grandchildren with many of her creations.

Dorothy was initially a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Holgate where she was baptized, confirmed and married.  Upon marriage she joined her husband's church St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Defiance.  She taught Sunday School at both and was a member of the Ladies Aid at St. Stephen's.  She also worked at the gift shop at the Defiance Hospital, sold Avon and worked as a bookkeeper for her husband's insurance business.

She was married to her husband Elmer for 65 years before he passed in 2010.  Also surviving are her children: son, Franklin (Mara) Thieroff , New York City; and three daughters: Marlene (Bruce) Goodwin, Defiance; Beverly (Arun) Venkatachar, Columbus, Ohio; and Sharon (Mark) Zehnder, Omaha, Nebraska.  She leaves 6 grandchildren, Julia Goodwin, Melinda (Dan) Schall,  Amanda Thieroff, Eric Zehnder, Zachary (Allison) Zehnder, and Charista (Peter) Baye, four great grandchildren: Nathan and Melanie Schall, and Nathan and Brady Zehnder, and one brother, Walter Leaders of Holgate, Ohio.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elmer,  a twin daughter Karen Kay,  brothers  Henry, Carl , Clayton  and Richard Leaders and a sister Anna Helmke.

Visitation will be from 4-7 on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at Schaffer Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, November 8, 2013 at St Stephen's Church, Defiance with the Rev. William Stottlemyer officiating.  Burial will be in St. Stephen's Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church or to the donor's choice.