Dorotha E. (Fitzner) Krystiniak

Dorotha Elaine Krystiniak, 92, of Fremont passed away peacefully with family by her side on February 23, 2018, at the Newaygo Medical Care Facility, just six days before her 93rd birthday.

Dorotha was born on March 1, 1925 in Belding to Elton and Nina (Johnson) Fitzner. She was a registered nurse for Michigan Blood in Grand Rapids until her retirement in 1989. Dorotha enjoyed welcoming friends and family at her home and cottage on Kimball Lake. She loved to bake, her specialty being pies and cookies. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will forever remember the bottomless cookie jar on her kitchen counter. Dorotha was an avid quilter, she loved to read and garden and had a very strong Catholic faith, having been a member of St. James in Grand Rapids, St. Bartholomew in Newaygo and All Saint’s in Fremont.

On Nov. 16, 1946 she married the love of her life, Peter Krystiniak. In their retirement they enjoyed many years of  traveling together, playing golf and gardening. He preceded her in death in 2006 after 59 wonderful years of marriage. 

She is survived by her six children: Sue (Dick) Duringshoff of Grand Rapids, Judi (Rick) Besemer of Morley, Sandy (Duane) VandenBerg of Fremont, Steve (Linda) Krystiniak of Grand Rapids, Martin Krystiniak (Bing Hanson) of Fremont, and Joseph (Leanne) Krystiniak of Newaygo; 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren; her brothers and sisters: Ralph (Angie) Fitzner, Lorraine Baehre, Dale (Delores) Fitzner, Sharon (Gordon) Helsel, and Nila (Tom) Plume; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Peter; her brother and his wife: Lyonel (Jackie) Fitzner; and her grandsons, Jonathan (Jono) Krystiniak and Ryan Besemer.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at St. Michael Catholic Church, 6382 W. Maple Island Road, Fremont.  The visitation will be from 10-11 AM with Funeral Mass at 11 AM followed by lunch in the church fellowship hall.  The family would like memorial contributions to Love, INC. where Dorotha had been a volunteer for many years.

Please share a fond memory or condolence with the family online at  www.kroeze-wolffis.com. Arrangements by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dorotha E. (Fitzner) Krystiniak, please visit our floral store.