Of Chelsea, Michigan , age 95, died at her home in Silver Maples of Chelsea on December 14, 2020 and is now at peace, with her Lord and Savior. The daughter of Clarence and Laura Koengeter, she was born on May 5, 1925, on a farm south of Chelsea. She enjoyed being her Dad’s helper on the farm and attended a one-room school for the first 8 years of her education. The foundation of her faith was received at Zion Lutheran Church, Rogers Corners, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She graduated from Chelsea High School in the class of 1942 and from Cleary College in 1943. She was a secretary at the University of Michigan for two years and then attended Capital University in Columbus, Ohio for three years. In 1948, she married Ralph A. Dobberstein of Dayton, Ohio. He was a WWII veteran and later a US Forester. They were blessed with four children, the joys of their lives: Tom; twins: Mary & Gary; and Tim. During their married life, they lived in Rome and Newnan, Georgia; Vallonia, Indiana and Ann Arbor, Michigan. She retired after fifteen years from Concordia College in Ann Arbor, as accounting supervisor.
She married Robert (Bob) L. Harvey in 1994, who she met through an Arbor Hospice support group after Ralph’s death in 1989. Arlene & Bob built a home south of Manchester and later became one of the first residents of Silver Maples of Chelsea. They enjoyed nearly 13 years of life together, traveling the entire United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Bob passed away in 2007.
They had been active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor and in 2016, Arlene joined Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chelsea. She was active in the music of the churches wherever she was a member – playing the organ at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Rome, Georgia; organizing the Choir at Trinity Lutheran in Vallonia, Indiana; singing in the choir at St. Paul Lutheran in Ann Arbor, Michigan and in later years playing for church services at Silver Maples and at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chelsea. She also had enjoyed being in Capital University’s a cappella Chapel Choir as well as with the University of Michigan Choral Union in Ann Arbor. She had also been the accompanist for The Nightingales of St. Paul Lutheran Church. All these volunteer jobs were such a joy and a privilege for her. It was also a great privilege to study at Elderhostels in various locations in the United States and take classes with the Adult Learners Institute (ALI) of Chelsea MI. She and Bob had enjoyed dancing and playing cards with their various groups as well as being volunteers at the Chelsea Hospital and the Chelsea District Library.
Survivors include her brother-in-law, Ralph Baumbach of Stoughton, Wisconsin; her sister-in-law, Marilyn Dobberstein of Dayton, Ohio; and her children: Tom (Teri) Dobberstein of Fishers, Indiana; daughter-in-law, Alishe Dobberstein of Noblesville, Indiana; Mary (Dan) Ludlum of Columbus, Ohio; and Tim (Barbara) Dobberstein of Chelsea, Michigan. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren: Rachel (Nick) Bryant; Paul (Andria) Dobberstein; Jonathan (Breeshna Javed) Dobberstein; Emily (Ryan) McIntosh; Sarah (Lance) Dardeen; Seth (Megan) Dobberstein; Andrew Dobberstein; Stephen (Heziel) Ludlum; Madeline (Alexander) Goodman; Alex Dobberstein and Jacob Dobberstein; two step-grandchildren, Karen (Joe) Elmendorf, Eric (Tricia) Statler. Fifteen great-grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild survive, as well. Also surviving are Bob’s four children: John, Merrilie, Libby & Ken and a number of step grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents; her sister, Wilma Baumbach; her husbands, Ralph and Robert; her son, Gary and grandchildren, Justin Dobberstein and David Ludlum.
An online funeral service with Rev. Dan Pezzica officiating was recorded and is available using the link below. A private committal service was held at Bethlehem Cemetery in Ann Arbor. The public memorial that was to be held on August 14, 2021 has been cancelled. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1515 S. Main St, Chelsea MI 48118; St. Paul Lutheran Church, 420 W. Liberty St. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 or Silver Maples of Chelsea, 100 Silver Maples Dr., Chelsea MI 48118. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea MI.
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