Dorothy Jean Rieck

The only child of Clarence and Helen Dunneback, Dorothy was born on July 4th, 1927, in Los Angeles, California. When Dorothy was five years old, her father, a native Detroiter, returned to Michigan with his wife and daughter to assume control of the family’s real estate holdings. Dorothy spent her formative years growing up in various Detroit neighborhoods, culminating in her graduation from Highland Park High School in 1945. After high school, Dorothy joined her mother as an employee of the J.L. Hudson Company, first in cold storage, then later in the clerical department at the downtown store. Dorothy briefly modeled for Hudson’s, appearing on the cover of the company magazine featuring a fashionable hat and veil.

In the late 1940s, at a function sponsored by her church (Third Church of Christ Scientist in Detroit), she met Karl Rieck, whom she later married on September 22nd, 1951. When her children were old enough, Dorothy returned to the workforce, eventually gaining permanent employment as a receptionist for Wolverine Fabricating Co., where she remained until her retirement in the early 1990s.

Her lifelong passions included movies, music, bowling, the theatre, dancing, her family, and the Detroit Tigers – where she celebrated her 90th birthday at Comerica Park. Dorothy was proud of her family heritage. She is a descendant of one of the original French settlers of Detroit – Jean Baptiste Chapoton. A devoted wife and mother, Dorothy carried herself with grace, style, and kindness to all, yet could also display some highly entertaining ditzy behavior. These endearing traits just made her family and friends love her more. To all the lives that she touched, Dorothy will be greatly missed.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband Karl. She is survived by her three children, Gary (wife Mary; son Carson), Scott (wife Candace; son Bogdan; daughter Sabrina), and Kimberly (son Matthew). Dorothy Rieck was 99 years old. In accordance with her wishes, a private service will be held.