Elizabeth “Liz” Donbrock, 88, of Coldwater went to be with the Lord, Monday, July 23, 2024 at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 25, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater.
The funeral service will be Friday, July 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Coldwater with Pastor Aaron Chittick officiating. Interment will follow at Lawrence Wilson Cemetery.
Elizabeth was born in Gilead Township June 11, 1936, to Merle G. and Wilma M. (Pascoe) Bidwell. She was the oldest of four children. After spending many years in one room schools, she graduated from Bronson High School in 1954 and attended Western Michigan University for one year.
Elizabeth married Merle C. Donbrock on October 12, 1957, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Coldwater. They spent their honeymoon in Kansas City, MO at the National FFA Convention where Merle received a National Young Farmer Award.
Liz was employed at Douglas Manufacturing Co. in Bronson for several years and later at the MSU Extension Office for 5 years. She served on many church boards, was a member of the Ladies Aid, LWML, the Alter Guild Society, and sang in the church choir. She became an active partner in the Donbrock Farms operation, working beside Merle every day for many years until their son, Chris, came into the operation after his graduation from MSU.
Elizabeth enjoyed gardening, tending her flowers, baking, and reading. She was a former member of the Branch County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and the Western Bureau Boosters Farm Bureau Group. She and Merle were members of the Branch County Republican Party and worked in the Republican Eat Stand at the 4-H Fair for about 20 years. She belonged to the Branch County Republican Woman’s Group, they danced with the Merry Mixer’s Square Dance Club and were active for many years in the Branch County Country Couples Group. Liz was associated with the 4-H Fair in many capacities for 60 years.
She served on the Coldwater Community Schools Board of Education for eight years, the Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility board, and recently retired after serving for 31 years on the Branch County Human Services Board.
Liz and Merle enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. They had also been to Europe several times.
The times she most enjoyed were watching Chris and later her granddaughters participate in their many school activities that included sports, music, and involvement at the 4-H Fair. She and Merle enjoyed getting together with friends, eating out, snowmobiling, and the trips they took together over a span of 50 years.
Elizabeth is survived by her loving husband Merle; her very special son Chris and his wife, Dusti; her beloved grandchildren Abby (Connor) Dwyer, Madison (Logan) Widlitzki; her great grandson, Carson Dwyer; her brother Gordon Bidwell of Bronson and his family; her sister-in-law, Mary Bidwell of Verona, WI and her family; many nieces, nephews, cousins; and a very special lady, Marcia Bloom, who had been a close friend for many years.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Allan Bidwell and his wife Karen and their two sons of Bronson. Her brother Don Bidwell of Verona, WI and her grandson Joshua Donbrock. Her mother and father in-law Erdine and Marlin Donbrock, sisters and brothers-in-law Carlene and Don Hunker, Donna and Lee Vance and their son John; Marilyn and Gene Pascoe and her children Larry and Bobby Parker; and Linda Thatcher.
Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church.
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