Dorothy R. Srsen, 84, of Eau Claire, died peacefully on Sunday, April 30, 2017, at Heatherwood Assisted Living in Eau Claire. Dorothy was born on October 26, 1932, in Mankato, MN, to Alois and Esther (Werner) Holzapfel during the Great Depression. Dorothy graduated from Mankato High School with the Class of 1950. During her senior year, she met George Srsen at a roller-skating rink in Mankato, MN, and they were married on May 29, 1951. Over the course of their marriage, Dorothy and George lived in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, during the Korean War (Dorothy said this was one of the best times of her life), Rochester, MN, Stevens Point, WI, and finally settling down for good in Eau Claire, WI. Dorothy's universe centered around her family, friends and the YMCA! She loved her husband of 60 years, George, and her two children, Georgene and Wayne, immensely. Dorothy raised her children while working at Bunny Bread and Holsum Bakery with her husband, George. As family members of the YMCA since 1965, she was actively involved in all things fitness, well before it became fashionable to do so. She enjoyed playing racquetball with her friends, swimming, Nautilus and running. For forty plus years, she started out her day by waking up every morning at 4 am to begin her fitness regimen by running three miles, and then she was off to the Y to really start her training! When her grandchild, Jake, was born, she couldn't love him enough. They had a special bond that only a grandma and grandchild could have. Dorothy was a long-time member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, where she made many life-long friends. Dorothy will be missed tremendously. Rest assured, her heaven will have her family waiting, with her beloved husband, parents, sisters, brothers, many extended family members, family dog Tiny, and a wide-open racquetball court that she will never have to wait for a reservation to make! Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Georgene (Wally) Srsen-Orlandoni of Lake Arrowhead, WI; son, Wayne (Regina) Srsen of Chaska, MN; grandchild, Jake Srsen; sister, Lois Hoffmann; brother, Richard (Janice) Holzapfel; sister-in-law, Vera Hozapfel; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, George in 2011; parents; infant sister; two brothers, Gene and Donald Hozapfel; sister, Phyllis (Darwin) Yungerberg; and two brothers-in-law, Howard Hoffmann and Ralph (Joanne)Srsen. The family would like to thank the staff of Heatherwood Assisted Living, Mayo Clinic Home Health and Hospice, and friend, Diane Lang, for the love, support, special care and assistance she provided to Dorothy during the last weeks of her life. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 601 Fall St. in Eau Claire. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church, with Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Heupel officiating. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire, WI.

Service Information

Visitation

Saturday, May 6 2017 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 601 Fall Street Eau Claire WI 54703

Funeral Service

Saturday, May 6 2017 1:00 PM

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 601 Fall Street Eau Claire WI 54703