Dorothy Parent

Parent, Dorothy H. Kalamazoo Dorothy Parent, born November 25, 1922 in Mason City, IA passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 10, 2018. She lived a long, fulfilled life. Raised on the family farm she grew up to be, for a time, a teacher in a one room schoolhouse. During the war years she ventured to Washington DC with her sister Ruby to then meet and marry, Kalamazoo native, returning Marine Charles "Chuck" Parent. Following the war, while raising their family of two sons, they established two owner operated retail beverage businesses. After they sold the Oakwood Beverage in 1970 the pair started spending winters with family and friends in Florida where they loved to golf and enjoy life with her sister, Betty and brother-in-law, "Beezer" Harold Johnson. In the mid-seventies, Dorothy entered into real estate. She loved and pursued this passion until shortly after Chuck's passing in 1982. During this same period the two of them traveled to some favorite destinations around the country, such as Hawaii, as well as spending the summer months with the family at Duck Lake. Now on her own, as well as being a migrating "snowbird" she took to world travel with friends to some of her favorite places of Australia, Ireland, and more. When spending her time closer to home she loved line dancing, going to the theater and playing bridge with friends. At times you could find her at home working in the yard, reading novels, doing cross-word puzzles or spending a ritual Wednesday evening having dinner with her two sons. She was a beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is preceded in death by her parents; Otto and Emma Muhlstein, her husband; Chuck Parent, and her son and daughter-in-law; Michael and Kathleen Parent. She is survived by her son; David Parent, sister; Betty Johnson (Muhlstein), sister; Ruby Muhlstein, nieces; Judy Mackay, Mary Timkovich, Janice Oros, nephew; Tom Johnson, grandchildren; Michael, Michelle, Donald, and Charlie Parent as well as her great grandchildren; Teigan, Aaliyah, Charlie, Kayden Parent and Mason Kostner. A graveside service will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo on Friday, June 8, 2018 at 2:00 PM. Donations in honor of Dorothy can be sent to the Kalamazoo Deacons Conference 1010 N. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Family and friends may share a condolence message online at www.joldersma-klein.com.