Crystal Lake – Dorothy L. (Anderson) Heisler, 94, of Crystal Lake, passed away peacefully Thursday, December 6, 2012 at Hospice of Northeastern Illinois in Woodstock. She suffered a stroke November 12th.
Dorothy was born March 16, 1918 to Ella and Arthur Anderson.
She started out as a farm girl living on West Hillside Rd., north of Crystal Lake and attending Ridgefield School, Dist. 48. When the family farm was sold, the Anderson family moved into town to a house on the corner of Woodstock St. and Caroline St., just a three block walk to Crystal Lake Community High School. She loved to dance and so did Leonard, the love of her life. They were married May 19th, 1940.
Dorothy was the last of the founding members of Bethany Lutheran Church. She was an avid golfer and bowler, and a big part of the family shoe business, Heisler’s Bootery. Anything to do to support her four boys and husband, she was right there.
Dorothy had a green thumb. One could hardly see out all the back porch windows because of her morning glories. Many rooms in the house had start-up plants growing, or somebody else’s plants recovering. Her hobby was collecting different small souvenir shoes from her travels and gifts from others in the family – totaling in the 100s.
The last several years of her life were busy at Heisler’s Bootery, holding court up front with the customers, reminiscing, reading her morning Crystal Lake Herald with coffee, and being a part of the daily activity. She will be greatly missed.
Dorothy is survived by sons Jim (Rebecca), John (Wilma), Jeff (Carol Ann), Jack (Linda), all of Crystal Lake; grandchildren Jody, Jason, Johnny, Jill, Cindy (Kevin), Tracy (Charles), Courtney, Tim (Lindsay), Brian; and great-grandchildren Kyle, Matt, Kaleigh, Charlie, Declan, and Ryan.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father and three older siblings, Art, Alice, and Howard. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Leonard J. Heisler, on Dec. 31, 2000 and her daughter-in-law, Carol Lee Heisler, on April 3, 2006.
Her family would like to thank all those who cared for her at home, at Centegra ICU, and the many staff at Hospice of Northeastern Illinois-Woodstock.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 9 from 3pm to 8pm at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 W. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. Visitation will continue on Monday, December 10 from 10am to 11am at Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake. A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 10 at 11am at Bethany Lutheran Church. Interment will follow at McHenry County Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made in Dorothy's name to Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or to Sheltered Village, 600 Borden St., Woodstock, IL 60098.
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