Dorothy Lynn Rathje (Reiter), 84, of Wheeling, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on May 5, 2022.

Dottie, as she preferred to be known, was born on September 20, 1937 in George, Iowa, to Harvey and Velma Reiter.  She attended the University of Dubuque and was proud to be able to attend every reunion.  Dottie relocated to the area around Chicago in 1959 where she spent the rest of her life and raised her family of six children.  The family purchased the Dairy Queen in Park Ridge, Illinois, and the Yankee Doodle restaurant in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, which later changed names to Dottie's Depot.  She waitressed at various area restaurants before obtaining secretarial positions with lawyers in Chicago and Evanston before finally taking an administrative assistant position with Perfection Machinery.  One of her proudest accomplishments was continuing to go to work long after most people retire.  Her last day at Perfection was in September 2021 when she was 84 years young.  Always the optimist, just one week before her passing, she was still telling people that she was looking forward to getting back to work at Perfection after taking leave for hip surgery.

Dottie was an active member of Unity Northwest Church in Des Plaines and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Melrose Park.  At Unity Northwest, she served as an organist and choir director for about 10 years, produced and directed Christmas and Easter plays, as well as 20's, 40's, and 50's , Western and Talent shows.  She worked on several committees and was team leader for her prayer team.  She loved the folks at Unity and attending services and activities and seeing her friends there was what she most looked forward to.  She began her time at Trinity as a substitute pianist. While the congregation was small, their hearts were big, and Dottie became lasting friends with many who attended there.  She played her beloved piano for the last time during Trinity's Palm Sunday service on April 10, 2022.

Dottie's family was her pride and joy: 6 children, 21 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren (and counting).  Although health problems kept her side-lined somewhat in her later years, she loved being involved in everyone's lives through photos of how and what the kids/grandkids/ and great-grandkids were up to.  She was so proud of all the holidays, weddings, showers, graduations and other events and being with her ever growing family whenever possible.  Dottie made it her job to know everything going on with everybody in the family….and she kept it all straight somehow.

Dottie is survived by her children: Curt Rathje, Christie King, Brian (Karen) Rathje, Debbie Biosca, Allison Rathje, and Sheri (Dave) Beck; grandchildren: Don Rathje, Doug Rathje, Rebecca King, Sarah (Cory) McSween, Rachel King, Hannah King, Elizabeth Rathje, Brian Rathje, Ryan Biosca, Morgan (Bryan) King, Lorin (Bobbie) Rachford, Jordan (Macy) Rathje, Michael Brey, Danielle Brey, Jesse (Edna) Torres Brey, Michelle (Ryan) Kavanaugh, Samantha (Jason) Moyer, Jeff Beck, Nicole (Travis) Hill , Allie (Greg) Mixon, and Kelly Beck; great-grandchildren: Rheis Sulack; Jayma & Ella McSween; Louis & Carter King; Charlotte Rachford; Brooklyn Brey; Jackson, Crew, Carson, & Sloane Moyer; and Griffin Hill; her sister-in-law Irene Reiter and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harvey & Velma (Tuel) Reiter, sister & brother-in-law Lyllis & Elmer VanBeest; brother Dave Reiter, and daughter-in-law Sandy (Malena) Rathje.

A Celebration of Dorothy's Life will be held Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 3:00pm at Unity Northwest Church, 259 E. Central Road, Des Plaines, Illinois with Reverend Garnett Foster officiating.  Scattering of ashes will be held later in a private family ceremony in her beloved Iowa.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Journey Care Hospice and the staff at Church Creek and Elara Caring.