Dorothy "Dottie" Siefker

Dorothy "Dottie" Siefker of Detroit, Michigan was born to Berwyn and Eileen Lemke on October 2, 1944 and peacefully passed away on January 23, 2022. She was the beloved wife of Roy David Siefker for 53 wonderful years. She was also the loving mother of Kirk (Jessica) Siefker, Kevin (Kayla) Siefker, Joshua Siefker, and 34 foster children. She was the cherished grandmother of Nathanael and Eli Siefker. Dottie was the dear sister of George (Barbara) Lemke and Jane Lemke. She was aunt of Kristin (Joe) Bafaro, Steve (Kim) Lemke, and she was great aunt of Joey and Steve Bafaro and Mackenzie, Andrew, and Conner Lemke.

Dottie was a devoted and loved teacher for nearly 40 years after her graduation from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. She taught at Trinity Lutheran School in Toledo, Ohio and at Greenfield Peace Lutheran School in Detroit, Michigan, and she retired from St. Paul Lutheran School in Northville, Michigan. In 2013, her last year of teaching, she was named Early Childhood Educator of the Year by the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Children were naturally drawn to Dottie’s motherly nature, and in addition to being mother to her three sons, she was “mom” to many of her students, her foster children, and many students at Detroit Urban Lutheran School/Detroit Christian Schools of Excellence, where her husband is principal.

Dottie loved to serve and loved to sing. She served on the Altar Guild each church at which she was a member, and she sang many years in multiple choirs. She and her sister Jane sang at Dottie’s sons’ weddings and at the weddings of their niece and nephew. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her and will be especially remembered for all the lives she has touched.

Dottie’s funeral will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church—201 Elm Street, Northville, MI 48167 on Friday, February 4, 2022 at 11:00 AM (family hour at 10:00 AM). The service will be live-streamed on the church’s YouTube channel—see stpaulnorthville.org for a link.

Donations in Dottie's memory can be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Altar Guild (stpaulnorthville.org) or Detroit Christian Schools of Excellence (detroitchristianschools.com)