Dorothy A. Fitzgerald

Dorothy A. Fitzgerald, 86, of Battle Creek went to be with her Lord and Savior Friday, March 10 at Rose Arbor Hospice after a courageous, yearlong battle with cancer. Dorothy was born November 11, 1930, the daughter of Ivan and Onalee (Crandell) Niswander. Dorothy was united in marriage on June 25, 2005 to Gordon O. Fitzgerald, he survives.


She was a beautiful seamstress, making and altering clothes for numerous people over the years, including wedding gowns. She loved to crochet, which she always did while watching TV, especially her favorite show Jeopardy. She loved stamp collecting, feeding the birds by her back porch so she could watch them, and participating in craft shows where she sold her beautifully crocheted doilies, huge table cloths and Barbie Doll clothes, as well as several other items she made. She also loved to travel, especially by air.


Being a faithful Christian woman, Dorothy loved her church families very much. She was currently a member of Pleasantview Family Church in Dowling, MI, and previously a member of Garrison Hills Wesleyan Church in Battle Creek. She was very giving, and donated money as well as her handmade items to Christian organizations and missions. Most of all, she loved her family dearly, never failing to send a birthday card to each and every one. She was a beautiful lady inside and out and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.


She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Donna Putnam and brothers Benjamin and Robert Niswander, her first husband Leslie "Tommy" Thompson and newborn twins Leslie James Jr. and Frederic Ivan Thompson. Dorothy is survived by her husband Gordon; brothers, William (Brenda) Niswander of East Leroy, MI and Daniel (Crystal) Niswander of Zeeland, MI; daughters, Sharon (Ron) Miller of Fowler, MI, Pamela (Will) Smith of Norwich, VT, and Janette (John) VanderWall of Battle Creek; granddaughters, Lisa Warnke, Teresa Kress, Sherry Barrett, Jessica Blatz, Amy Wesner; grandson, Eric Wesner; seven great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.


A visitation will be held from 2-4 & 6-8 Monday, March 13th at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care in Battle Creek. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at Pleasantview Family Church, with Pastor Steve Olmstead officiating. Interment will be at Hicks Cemetery
in Battle Creek. Memorial tributes may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, Cancer Center at Bronson Battle Creek and the Pleasantview Family Church. Arrangements by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Memorial messages may be left for the family at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.