Obit: Kathlyn Dobias, 94, Scottville.

Kathlyn Marie (Pankow) Dobias

Kathlyn Marie (Pankow) Dobias, aged 94 of Scottville, passed away Saturday, October 25, 2014, at Oakview Medical Care Facility in Ludington. Kathlyn was born on May 19, 1920 in Roseville, Michigan to Ervine and Hester (Rogers) Pankow, and graduated from Roseville High School with the class of 1938.

Kathlyn and her family visited Mason County often because of relatives in the area.  She met her future husband, Jim, at age 16 during one of these visits.  On Oct. 2, 1943 she married Jim Dobias at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Pelton Corners, and they have celebrated 69 years together.  She was preceded in death by her husband, her brother Ervine, and her sister Florence.

Kathlyn first worked as a telephone operator in Detroit until 1942.  Her family then moved to Mason County and she began to attend Mason County Normal College.  As her children grew she returned to her education and finished her degree at C.M.U. in 1961.  Kathlyn substitute taught for Mason County Central Schools briefly and spent the rest of her career in the Ludington School District, most recently in Special Education, retiring at age 63.

She loved staying busy on the family farm, with gardening, craft work, pottery, and quilting. A lifetime member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, she often taught Sunday school as well as VBS. Upon her retirement, the couple spent winters in Lady Lake, Florida, where they made new friends and enjoyed playing cards.  Jim and Kathlyn moved to Sherman Oaks Manor in 2008 and in 2011, she moved to Oakview Medical Care Facility, where she remained until her death.

Kathlyn was devoted to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her children, Karen Rogers, and Lorna Dobias, both of Scottville, James (Mary) Dobias of Ludington, Linda (Thomas) Andresen of Cary, North Carolina, Matthew (Le’An) Dobias of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, and Mark (Patricia) Dobias of Allegan; 11 Grand children, Blake (Kristy Lambert) McCleary, Ryan (Reyla) McCleary, Lori and Greg Dobias, Bryan Dobias (fiancée, Chelsi Clanton), Kellie (Clay) Coffee, Tanya (Keith) Merchant, Christian (Amanda) Andresen, Courtney Andresen, Emily and Elyssa Dobias; five great-grandchildren; her sister, Evelyn Battige of Newaygo, sisters-in-law Loretta Pankow of Ludington, Joan Dobias of Scottville, and Charlotte Dobias of Cheboygan.

Funeral services will be held for Kathlyn at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 30, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Scottville with Rev. James Schroeder officiating. Burial will take place at Sugar Grove Cemetery.  Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Wednesday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. at Wyman Funeral & Cremation Service – Stephens Funeral Home in Scottville, as well as one hour prior to the service at the church. Those who wish to make memorial contributions are asked to consider the Mason County Central Education Fund or Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Please visit Kathlyn’s personal memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to leave a tribute of Kathlyn for her family, or to light a candle in her memory.