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Dorothy Zehnder Obituary: Co-founder of Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Inn Dorothy Zehnder’s Death Cause Revealed

By Marcus Reynolds

Dorothy Zehnder Eulogy, Passing Reason:- Dorothy Zehnder, the fellow benefactor and female authority of the Bavarian Hotel, perhaps of the most notorious and effective eatery in Michigan, died on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at her home in Frankenmuth encompassed by her family. She was 101 years of age.

Her family declared her passing in a proclamation, saying: “We grieve the death of our cherished mother, grandma, and family matron. We expand our gratitude for the help from the Frankenmuth people group and ask that you assist us with recalling Dorothy for the astonishing lady she was and who will stay in our souls. Our family will keep on maintaining the soul of Dorothy and her inheritance to this local area.”

Dorothy Zehnder WIKI

NAMEDOROTHY ZEHNDER
Date of birthDecember 1, 1921
Date of deathJuly 9, 2023
Age101
Place of birthReese, Michigan
Place of deathFrankenmuth, Michigan
Cause of deathNatural causes
OccupationRestaurateur, cookbook author
SpouseWilliam “Tiny” Zehnder (1942-2006)
ChildrenBill Zehnder, Judy Zehnder Keller (1947-2022), Roxie Westgate
Grandchildren10
Great-grandchildren25
RestaurantBavarian Inn

Dorothy Zehnder was born on December 1, 1921, in Reese, a modest community north of Frankenmuth. She experienced childhood with a ranch and figured out how to cook from her mom, who showed her how to make customary German dishes like sauerbraten, schnitzel, and spaetzle.

She began functioning as a server at Fischer’s Inn in Frankenmuth during the 1930s, where she met her future spouse, William “Minuscule” Zehnder. They wedded in 1942 and had three kids: Bill, Judy, and Roxie.

Lots of us can say we met Dorothy Zehnder. We all were blessed. Lovely obituary by Melody Baetens. via @detroitnews

— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) July 10, 2023


In 1950, they purchased Fischer’s Lodging from Small’s dad and renamed it the Bavarian Hotel. They changed it into an objective for real German cooking and friendliness, drawing in huge number of guests throughout the long term. The Bavarian Motel extended to incorporate an inn, a water park, a bread kitchen, a cheddar shop, a gift shop, and a carryout business.

Dorothy Zehnder Tribute Dorothy Zehnder was the main impetus behind the Bavarian Motel’s prosperity. She grew the majority of the recipes utilized in the café, which is popular for its family-style seared chicken meals and other German solace food varieties. She additionally regulated quality control and prepared a huge number of workers in the kitchen.

She worked enthusiastically for the rest of her life, frequently investing energy in the kitchen and lounge area, welcoming clients and staff with her comforting grin and amicable character. She additionally composed three cookbooks, imparting her recipes and stories to ages of home cooks.

She was a long lasting individual from St. Lorenz Lutheran Church and a liberal ally of numerous worthy missions in Frankenmuth and then some. She got various honors and respects for her accomplishments and commitments to the culinary and accommodation industry.

She was gone before in death by her better half Little, who died in 2006, her sister Edna Hegenauer and her girl Judy Zehnder Keller, who died in 2022. She is made due by her two youngsters, Bill Zehnder and Roxie Westgate, 10 grandkids, and 25 incredible grandkids.

Her burial service administrations will be held at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church sometime in the future. Gifts in her memory can be made to the congregation or Frankenmuth City Beautification.

dorothy zehnder obituary | dorothy zehnder Michigan: Passed away at 101 | A Legacy in Michigan’s Little Bavaria via @NEWS BRIM #dorothy #DiedSuddenly #deaths #Michigan #Food #hotels #Foodies #Foodie

— Entertainment HUB (@fsk_hub) July 10, 2023


Facts about Dorothy Zehnder

  • She was one of the prime supporters and female authorities of the Bavarian Motel, one of the greatest earning autonomous eateries in the country.
  • Dorothy Zehnder worked in the eatery business for over 85 years, beginning as a server at Fischer’s Lodging in Frankenmuth during the 1930s.
  • She grew the greater part of the recipes utilized in the Bavarian Hotel, which serves in excess of 900,000 feasts every year, highlighting genuine German cooking and broiled chicken suppers.
  • She composed three cookbooks, imparting her recipes and stories to ages of home cooks.
  • Zehnder was a long lasting individual from St. Lorenz Lutheran Church and a liberal ally of numerous worthy missions in Frankenmuth and then some.
  • She got various honors and praises for her accomplishments and commitments to the culinary and neighborliness industry.
  • Dorothy was known for her accommodating nature, astounding memory, and commitment to the Bavarian Motel, where she worked even in the wake of turning 100.