Dorothy "Dottie" Jane Hoopingarner

Dorothy Clanahan was born on June 23, 1938 in Marquette, Michigan to Dorothy and Dennie Clanahan. She was the third of five children, and grew up with two older sisters and two younger brothers.

The family moved to East Lansing several years later, and she graduated from East Lansing High School and Michigan State University. It was there that she met the love of her life, Donald Hoopingarner, and they were married in 1960. The two of them settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Don was a high school teacher. They went on to have five children of their own, and spent 65 happy years together in Grand Rapids and then in East Lansing.

Dottie was a loving mother, a gifted teacher, an enthusiastic musician, and a talented artist.

After college, Dottie taught at Harrison Park Junior High in Grand Rapids for four years. She left that job to raise her family, becoming a different kind of teacher as she guided five children to adulthood. In 1981, Dottie went back to teaching, this time at a preschool. She taught at West Catholic in Grand Rapids for twenty years, where the little ones called her “Mrs. Hoopie.”

Dottie found great joy making music with others. She was a member of the church choir at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids and All Saints Episcopal Church in East Lansing. She also played handbells, sang in the Steiner Chorale in East Lansing, and was a member of the West Michigan Savoyards, appearing in many Gilbert and Sullivan musicals.

Dottie was well known for her beautiful quilts. Her quilts were works of functional art, meant to be cherished as well as appreciated. She made quilts for every child and grandchild. She made quilts for every high school graduate, every newly married couple, and every new baby she knew. Her quilts have soothed tears, been spread on beds, and made the best napping companions. Wrapping yourself in one of Dottie’s quilts is like getting a hug from her.

Dottie was predeceased by her parents, Dennie and Dorothy, her sister, Janet Trumble and brothers, David Clanahan and Stephen Clanahan.

Dorothy is survived by her husband, Donald and her children, Kirra (David) Werstein, Dennie (Stacy) Hoopingarner, Margaret Kourvo, Colin Hoopingarner, and JM (Todd) Ethridge. She also had eight grandchildren: Ian Hoopingarner, Evan Hoopingarner, James Werstein, Lily Smith, Emily Zhou, Amory Zhou, Beatrice Ethridge and Malcolm Ethridge. She had one great-grandchild, Daniel Smith.

There will be no immediate service. A celebration of life will occur in the spring with details to be determined.