Dorothy Hawker
Dorothy Hawker, 103
Dorothy Hawker, a true girl of the north country, and a woman known
for having a dry wit and a lot of zip, even in her last days, died on
October 6, 2013.
Dorothy was born Dorothy Anna Falk to Axel and Olivia Falk, on June
4, 1910, in Minneapolis. She graduated from Minneapolis North High School
and from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Physical Education.
She also studied during the summer in Vermont under Martha Graham, one
of the founders of the Modern Dance movement. Upon graduation, Dorothy
was employed by Minneapolis Central High School, where she remained
for her entire career as the girls’ P.E. and dance teacher.
Dorothy was preceded in death by: her brother, Alfred Falk, of California;
her sister, May Belden, of Massachusetts; and her husband, William G.
Hawker, of Buffalo.
Dorothy is survived by her son, Michael W. Hawker, and her daughter-in-law,
Karen Hawker, of Keystone, Colorado. She is also survived by: her grandson,
William Hawker, his wife, Nicole Hawker, and great-grandsons Kendall
and Kannon Hawker, of Sugar Land, Texas; and her granddaughter, Kelly
Allen, her husband, Christopher Allen, and great-grandchildren Chase
and Peyton Allen, of Lone Tree, Colorado. Dorothy’s surviving
nieces and nephew are Lisa (Belden) Martin, her husband, Ed Martin,
and sons, Robert and John, of New Hampshire; Dr. Karen Belden of Massachusetts;
and Charles Belden of South Carolina.
Dorothy was an inveterate traveler well into her late 90’s, going
to Houston for Thanksgiving and to Massachusetts for Christmas each
year and occasionally to California and Florida (all of which led to
many airport “adventures,” too numerous to mention, with
the advent of heightened airport security and inclement Minnesota winter
weather). She credited her longevity to having participated in intense
physical activity for her entire career and to a diet of eggs, bacon,
butter, ice-cream, steak, and the occasional martini.
Dorothy was proud of having lived her entire life in Minnesota; steadfastly
refusing opportunities to live closer to her family, who were living
in Houston -- partly because she was not fond of heat, humidity, Texans,
or Republicans, but also because of the loving attention and care she
received from so many people during the time she lived in the Hawker
family home on Lake Pulaski and, then, in Buffalo. Up close, it is difficult
to contemplate the number of people who have impacted Dorothy's life
in so many positive ways; but from a distance, the numbers and deeds
become both surprising and remarkable. It is simply not possible to
adequately express our thanks to the many, many of you who are those
people, but we hope to succeed in a small way by recognizing those who
richly deserve our gratitude:
Mrs. Tracy Ahlm
Ms. Joyce Anderson
Kenneth and Shirley Anderson
Mrs. Sandy Baert
Mr. Charles L. Belden
Dr. Karen Belden
Mr. Al Betcher
Mrs. Karen Bidne
Mrs. Delia Bock
Buffalo Floral - Tim and Patty Speckel
Mrs. Andrea Dorado
Mr. Jerald Dorf
Mrs. Pattie Dorf
Mrs. Nancy Elam
Mrs. Karen Haaland
Mrs. Gloria Genardi
Mr. Mike Gilmer
Pastor Hyland Goodman
Ms. Priscilla Hawkinson
Ms. Birdie Hickman
Mrs. Patty Hilker
Ms. Cathy Hoin
Ed and Peg Hoin
David and Jill Johnson
Mrs. Sue Kaiser
Roger and Cathy Krueger
Dr. Cynthia Larson
Pastor Harry Maravela
Luke Markve and the Buffalo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Ed, Lisa, John, and Robert Martin
Mrs. Elsie Mitchell
Dr. Ronald Moore
Park Terrace Assisted Living, Buffalo, MN
Park View Care Center, Buffalo, MN
Pastor Dwight Petersen
Mrs. Jill Pingel
Mr. Phil Riley and family
Ms. Judy Sandeen
Ms. Kathy Tenney
The many classes of Central High School and the University of Minnesota
which regularly included Dorothy in their reunion activities and communicated
with her individually, as well.
Ms. Nanette Thornton
Nicolas and Stacy Uecker
Ron and Joyce Uecker
Dr. Douglas Watkins
Ms. Amy Wittmann
If we have somehow missed someone, please be assured it is unintentional
and accept our apologies.
Dorothy’s wishes were that no service be held in her memory because
her 100th birthday celebration “served that purpose just fine”
and that her ashes be spread near Solbakken, a favorite vacation spot
on the shores of Lake Superior.
Once again, we thank you for the countless ways in which you enhanced
Dorothy's life -- a life well lived. We know you will miss her as will
we.
In lieu of customary remembrances, a memorial contribution may be directed
to Elim Care, 7485 Office Ridge Circle, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 or at
elimcare.org.
Gratefully,
Dorothy's Family
Honoring the Memory of Dorothy Hawker
The members of the Buffalo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship would like
to honor the memory of our late member, Dorothy Hawker, who died on
Oct. 6th at the age of 103. The time of remembrance will be 2:00 P.M.
on Thursday, Oct 17, 2013, in the Chapel at the Park View Care Center,
613 Montrose Blvd., Buffalo We invite those who knew and loved her to
join
