Jeanette Dolk

Jeanette Dolk, 92, long-time resident of Chesterton, died on January 10 at the VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso. She was born September 18, 1922, in East Chicago, Indiana, to Carl and Hazel (Soderstrom) Dolk who preceded her in death.

She is survived by her sister Phyllis (Ross) Blythe of Valparaiso and sister-in-law Sue Dolk of Crown Point. She is also survived by six nieces and nephews and four great nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by Marion Aldrin (sister) and Charles Dolk (brother) and her friend, Twila Bartz.

Following her high school graduation in 1940, Jeanette worked as a clerk at Youngstown Sheet & Tube and was active in the Indiana Harbor Baptist Church. At church, she was encouraged to go to college, which she did, earning a Bachelor's of Religious Education and two masters degrees from work done at institutions including McAllister College, Northwestern University, Indiana University and the University of Chicago.

At the Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago, she met her friend, Twila Bartz. They formed a life-long friendship and influenced all who knew them. Jeanette's work life included serving as a missionary, educator, and administrator, with most of her career being spent as administrator of Whispering Pines Health Care Center in Valparaiso. She spent the last few years of her life as a resident at Pines Village, which she had helped to build during her time as administrator at Whispering Pines.

A resident of Chesterton since 1972, Jeanette was an active member of St. John's United Church in Chesterton. She and Twila were especially active in Christian Education and started an Advent Dinner tradition at St. John's that continues to this day. Memorials in Jeanette's honor can be made to VNA Hospice or St. John's United Church.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s United Church, 225 W. Lincoln Ave, Chesterton, with Pastor Heidi Vardeman officiating.  A visitation prior to the funeral service will be held on Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.  The family will receive friends on Friday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 South 2^nd, St., Chesterton.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jeanette Dolk, please visit our floral store.