Cover photo for Deborah Marie "Dr. Deb" Frett's Obituary
Deborah Marie "Dr. Deb" Frett Profile Photo
1951 Deborah Marie 2022

Deborah Marie "Dr. Deb" Frett

September 8, 1951 — August 1, 2022

Dr. Deborah Marie Frett, D.C., age 70, of Gull Lake and longtime Kalamazoo Chiropractor, passed away Monday morning, August 1, 2022.

Deb's vision for her life was to "…Live, Live, Live - until it's my time to go - and then simply go to sleep and wake up on the Other Side" with God.

A believer in Positive Thinking and Concept Therapy, she always looked for the good in people - knowing that she was, as she frequently professed, "…Always Protected - I will have what I need when I need it through God's provisions…".

Debbie attended Illinois State University; and then followed in her uncle Allen's footsteps as he presented her Doctor of Chiropractic at the premiere and original Palmer College of Chiropractic near her home town of Riverdale - where her dad, Paul Parker and her mom Joyce and middle sister Pamela Parker-NibWhit and baby sister Becky Kraft lived.

Thousands of patients knew her as "Doctor Deb" during her thirty-year career in Kalamazoo as a Chiropractor; and they have filled in the void that never having had any "bio kids" left - and her maternal love and nurturing was felt by myriad members of her "Family" - wherein a person is a member of family by a) blood, b) marriage, or c) invitation.

For some thirty years since her mother's passing, her loving parents have been Paul and Barbara Parker.

Her "children" - none of whom ever lived with her - included those when widowed by the death of her first husband, Terry Witteveen and those of her second husband, James Gorka.

These "Children of Her Heart" include: Jennifer Witteveen, Rebecca Rindahl, Jonathan Witteveen, Dawn Morgan, Matthew Gorka, and "Binky the Cat".

Possibly even more dear to her were her grandchildren, nieces and nephews Montana Rindahl, Dr. Normandy Rindahl, Tristan Roelofs, Roy Roberts III, Kasey Roberts, Caitlynn Morgan, Andrew Morgan, Fabian Gorka, Amanda Kraft, Andrew Kraft, and Gabe Kraft, Madison Kraft, Melody Niblett, Richard Niblett, and Jerry Whitten Jr..

Deb's "extended family" included all of the Witteveen family - who continued to love Deb as Family - even welcoming her new husband Jim into the family!

Deb loved her "Snowbird" friends - those at her summer home on Gull Lake, MI; and those at her winter home at Country Village of Bradenton, FL - which is fifteen minutes from Terry and Jim and Deb's favorite: Anna Maria Island.

While in Michigan, Debbie loved meetings of the Ladies of the Lake where she was the group's Historian. The LOTA is a social organization for lovers of Gull Lake that annually presents scholarships to worthy students.

At her winter home, she participated in organized social events including the annual Polish Dinner which filled to capacity the Condominium's Recreation building. Trips to Anna Maria Island were weekly events - where awe-inspiring Sunsets are the norm.

This Message is to all who considered Debbie a friend or family: Please come and share your stories after the brief service which will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday August 27th starting at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home on the west side of beautiful Richland, Michigan officiated by her son-in-law, Fr Steven G. Rindahl, DMin.

IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SERVICE AT THE FUNERAL HOME - BETWEEN 12 AND 3 PM - PLEASE JOIN THE FAMILY/FRIENDS FOR A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT THE INN AT GULL LAKE - WHICH IS A MERE 3.5 MILES EAST OF THE FUNERAL HOME AT THE SOUTH END OF GULL LAKE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF M-89 - at: 12500 M-89, Richland, MI 49083

For DIRECTIONS to the RECEPTION at the Inn at Gull Lake: https://www.bing.com/maps/directions?rtp=adr.~pos.42.368953704833984_-85.3873291015625_12500+M-89%2c+Richland%2c+MI+49083_Gull+Lake+Inn_(269)+731-4131

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the PALMER College of Chiropractic 1000 Brady St. Davenport, IA 52803 - Advancement Office or on line at www.palmer.edu/donate.

Personal messages for the family and favorite memories of "Dr. Deb" may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com, where further details will also be provided.
The service will be live-streamed and may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/744225381/32a35ee4ea.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Online Webcast

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

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MI

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Celebration of Life

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland

9170 E D Ave, Richland, MI 49083

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