Dolores "Deitz" Kracker's Obituary
Kracker, Dolores “Deitz”, nee Otterbacher, died August 6th, 2021. She was born March 24, 1947, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Alan, her son, Christopher Kracker (Shannon), daughter, Stephanie Gardiner, and beloved grandchildren: Christopher Straight, and Channing and Macey Kracker, and equally beloved cats, Howie and Benny. She has one sister, Marsha Higby (Les).
Deitz went to Rockford High School and graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.S. degree and K-8 teaching certification. She was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority.
Al and Deitz were married for over 51 years. She taught for 7 years before joining her husband as they purchased the family business, Mor Electric Heating, which was named Small Business of the Year in 2002 by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. Together they created a small manufacturing company, Infrared Internationale of North America and soon after purchased the parent company in Wales, UK, Infrared Internationale Engineering.
She is the author of The Good Morning Grump, a children’s book, magazine articles in both national and local publications as well as a variety of poetry and short stories. Her second book, Lighthouse Lizzie, historical fiction for young adults, is as yet unpublished. She has also written a memoir called Telling.
She was active for many years as a Cub Scout leader, PTO President, St. Jude’s Hospital fundraising, and Religious Education teacher for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Her pre-retirement business years memberships included the Association for Women Entrepreneurs, and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
After retiring in 2015, they moved from the Kenowa Hills area of Comstock Park to the lakeshore south of Grand Haven where they spend 6 months of the year, residing in Hemet, California for the other, colder, 6 months. An active reader, she has enjoyed being a member of the Lakeshore Book Club for many years and, until Covid shut it down, a mentor of EmpowerU Money Management Training for Love in Action.
In California, she was a member of the Diamond Valley Writer’s Guild and the weekly sessions of her Read & Critique Writing Group as well as a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11:00 AM Monday, September 13, 2021, at St. Patrick - St. Anthony Catholic Church, 920 Fulton Ave. Grand Haven, MI with Fr. Charles Schwartz officiating. A luncheon and Celebration of Life will be held at the church following the service for those who would like to listen to or share their memories of “Days with Deitz”.
Special thanks to Dr. Aaron Shafer, and nurse Amy, MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, Dr. Kishore Sehgal and nurses Cynthia and Janet in Murrieta, CA and Dr. Kelly Parling-Lynch and nurse Alicia in Holland, MI who all allowed Deitz to continue her nomadic travels throughout her illness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rett Syndrome Research Trust or the Ramona Humane Society, San Jacinto CA. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at http://www.sytsemafh.com.
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