She joined two brothers, John D. Stoll and Matthew J. Stoll, and one sister, Martha J. Stoll.
The family moved to East Lansing, Michigan months after Sarah’s birth where Sarah’s second sister, Mary R. Stoll, was born.
Her entire family were by her side including her daughter Elizabeth A Ortwine, when she unexpectedly passed away from complications due to Multiple Sclerosis (MS), late Monday afternoon, August 17, 2020. She joins her father, Donald F. Stoll, who passed away in September of 2007.
Sarah graduated from East Lansing High School with the class of 1981, where she excelled in academics, gymnastics, cheerleading and EL singers. Sarah was gifted with a beautiful voice and loved to sing. It was fitting that family and friends were able to gather around her bedside and sing some of her favorite songs, smile, cry and laugh with her before God led her home.
Sarah graduated from Alma College, class of 1985 with an International Business Major, where she participated in the Alpha Theta sorority, Alma Choir, and spent a semester abroad studying in Germany.
She began her professional career in Retail Management with Dayton-Hudson Companies, and later transitioned and became an Assistant Manager of a Kohl’s store. It was during this time that her MS flared and revealed a peek at the troubling hand dealt to Sarah.
Sarah married Mark B. Ortwine June 11, 1988 and together they tried to navigate life with Sarah’s MS. In true Sarah style, she continued forward in life trying not to let her progressive and exacerbative MS slow her down. She gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Elizabeth A. Ortwine, August 22, 1994, who was the light of her life.
As time went on, Sarah’s MS continued to degrade her physical abilities and she eventually found a home in Green Acres of Mason. Even after years of suffering with MS, Sarah’s spirit was never broken. She amazed us all with her determination, strength and ability to maintain her wit and humor through all her physical losses.
This week, Sarah succumbed to the ravages of her MS. Her light has not been extinguished as it has been passed on and will continue to shine through her daughter Elizabeth, family and friends. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, Memorials can be given to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
A Celebration of Sarah’s Life is TBD - most likely around Thanksgiving.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Ortwine family.
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