Dorothy (also known to family and friends as DoDo ... pronounced doe-doe) was born in Lowder, Illinois on August 26, 1928, the daughter of Albert and Marie (Bean) Hays. She graduated from Springfield High School in 1946.
On May 8, 1949, Dorothy married Paul E. Kluckman, with whom she had three children. Paul preceded her in death on Friday, April 13, 1973. She married Charles R. Erickson, Sr. (also known to family and friends as Duby) on July 2, 1976; and, he preceded her in death on Halloween 2007. Also preceding her in death were her five brothers: Paul, Wayne, Oscar, Bob and Ed Hays, and two sisters: Mary Doolen and Helen Chism.
Shortly following the death of her first husband, Paul, Dorothy rejoined the workforce, taking a job right across the street from home as a bookkeeper at Hennessy’s Flower Shop. She continued working in that capacity as that business changed ownership; and, finally retired at the age of 83 from Flowers with Love when they closed their doors in 2011, having worked for 20 years as their office manager.
Dorothy’s love for flowers extended beyond her work in the floral industry. She developed a passion for flowers years earlier. She loved to work in her flower garden or just sit on her front porch and enjoy all the beautiful flowers around her Fair Hills Residence community. She was devoted to taking care of the flowers around the community apartments … planting, feeding, weeding and watering. Sunday afternoon she was doing what she loved at the time of her unfortunate accident, watering flowers.
Not only a passion for flowers, but Dorothy loved looking for four-leaf clovers; and, she was the luckiest and best at finding them. Each one she found she dated and kept in a protective page binder … going back a number of years. She loved showing them to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends as well; and, loved looking in her yard with the kids hoping they would find one too. Year 2020, there are over a hundred four-leaf clovers she had found. She’s just about as lucky at the gambling boats, loved those slot machines … and scratch-off lottery cards too.
Dorothy was a faithful member of St. John’s Lutheran Church ELCA. She was also very involved in her community at Fair Hills Residence of the Illinois Presbyterian Home in Springfield, where she attended bible studies, enjoyed musical performances provided for the community residents, loved playing bingo, tackling those challenging jigsaw puzzles with friends, and just enjoyed talking with others only to find out, while sharing stories about their individual life experiences, there was someone or something they had in common.
Dorothy was an avid bowler; and, up until the COVID-19 pandemic, she bowled on average about 4 times a week in various leagues. She rolled a pretty mean left hook into the pocket and carried anywhere from a 140 to a 165 average. February 2018 Jacksonville newspaper ‘Spare Notes’ article by Dottie Konrad reported on the Springfield Lincoln Land Senior League, writing ‘Dorothy Erickson may be 89 years old, but you would never know it by the way she bowls. Last week she had a 224 game and a 504 series. She carries a 140 average in the league.’ She was so looking forward to getting back to the bowling alley to see all her pals.
Dorothy’s family was second only to her faith in God … she was a daughter, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt. Her family grew when she married Duby Erickson to also include stepchildren/grandchildren/great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children: Connie (Larry) Golembeck of Petersburg, Illinois; Larry (Diana) Kluckman of Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri; and, Gary (Jewell) Kluckman of Worden, Illinois. Grandchildren: Jeffrey (Chloe) Kluckman of Pleasant Plains, Illinois; Chad (Mandy) Golembeck of Petersburg, Illinois; Lauren (Andrew) Meneghetti of Glenarm, Illinois. Great-Granddaughter Hailey Kluckman serving in the U.S. Army (Fayetteville, North Carolina) and several younger great-grandchildren. Also, many nieces and nephews, step children, step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.
The family will greet family and friends on Wednesday, July 22nd, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2477 West Washington in Springfield, observing church COVID-19 protocols (wearing of masks at all times/social distancing will be enforced). Visitation in the Parish Life Center (please use the north entrance under the portico off the main parking lot) from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M., with a private family service immediately following visitation. Family and friends are welcome to join the procession to Oak Ridge Cemetery for burial service. Pastor Pam Mitcham will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may direct memorial contributions to St. John’s Lutheran Church or Fair Hills Residence of the Illinois Presbyterian Home.
Arrangements are in the care of Bisch Funeral Home West. 217-544-5424
