Dorothy Free

Dorothy M. Free, of Sheboygan, died Saturday morning, February 7, 2015 at the age of 88 at Harmony Living Center. She was born February 19, 1926 in the town of Meeme to Herman and Hattie (Albrecht) Zimmermann. She attended Louis Corners and Mineral Springs schools. On March 18, 1944 Dorothy and Walter Free were united in marriage at Schwartzwald Evangelical and Reformed Church. Walter preceded her in death on November 1, 2011. Dorothy was a member of Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Sheboygan. She was employed at Wonder Bread Bakery, Eastern Distributing Co., and Sheboygan News before starting a ceramic studio in her home. She taught ceramic classes for twenty-two years. In addition she also enjoyed painting on glass ornaments and wooden objects. Other interests included cooking, baking, and decorating cakes as well as tending to flowers, both inside the house and outside. Dorothy and Walter spent many summers camping and also spent fifteen summers at a cottage at White Lake. Dorothy loved to entertain her family and friends for weekends at the cottage. After retirement, she joined the senior bowling league at Maple Lanes. Dorothy is survived by her sons, Melvin (Lorrie) Free of Kohler, Myron (Marilyn) Free of Howards Grove, her daughter, Sharon (Russell) Dirks of Elkhart Lake, and her daughter-in-law, Janice Free of Sheboygan; eleven grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandsons. In addition to her parents, Herman and Hattie, and her husband, Walter, Dorothy was preceded in death by her son, Marvin Free; her granddaughter, Carren Free; and three brothers, Kenneth, William, and Eugene Zimmermann. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. at Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Sheboygan, 3215 Saemann Ave., Sheboygan, WI. Rev. Dr. Roger J. Mealiff, Pastor, will officiate. A time of visitation and support will be held at the church from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service. Entombment will take place at Gardens of Peace Mausoleum. A memorial fund has been established in Dorothy's name for Ebenezer United Church of Christ. The family of Dorothy would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff of Harmony Living Center, especially Pam, and Aurora At Home Hospice Care for their compassion and care.