Dolores G. "Dee" Tozer

She was born Dolores Stasziewski on October 1, 1929, in Cicero, Illinois, attending Chicago Public Schools before enrolling at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1947. There she met Clifton L. Tozer, marrying him on June 11, 1949, at which point Dee suspended her college education to raise a family of three boys. After moving to Springfield in 1953, Dee started a day-care center for neighborhood preschoolers in the basement of her home, worked as a counselor in TP Day Camp in the summers, and eventually resumed her college education, completing her baccalaureate and Illinois Teaching Certificate in 1971 at Illinois College in Jacksonville. She then taught first and second grades in Springfield Public Schools, before concluding her career by teaching adult literacy at the Lawrence Education Center in Springfield. For 71 years, she was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield, active in church affairs for most of that time.

Dee is survived by her brother, Tad Stashwick (Carole); three sons, Steven (Victoria), Randall (Jodie), and Michael (Gail); 8 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 5 nieces and nephews. Nearly all of Dee’s family were able to celebrate her 95th birthday with her in Springfield in 2024.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifton; parents, George and Cecile; and sisters, Joan and Susan. She will be remembered as a loving, generous, tireless and good-humored anchor of an extended family who continue to share love across four generations--in large part because of the example she set with her husband Clif.

Cremation will be provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center.

The family will celebrate Dee’s life in a private ceremony at a time to be arranged. Burial will take place at Camp Butler National Cemetery.

The family is being served by Boardman-Smith Funeral Home, 800 S. Grand Ave. West, Springfield.

Please visit www.boardmansmith.com to offer your condolences.