Dorothy M. (Speichinger) VanBooven passed away May 12, 2016. Dorothy was born on July 9, 1942, in a farmhouse southeast of Mendon, Missouri to Francis and Agnes (Ostermann) Speichinger. She started school in a one room school house and completed her grade school and high school education in Brunswick, MO. Following High School, Dorothy entered St. Mary's Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri where she received her Diploma in Nursing in 1963. She later completed her Bachelor Degree at Avila College 1976, and her Masters in Health Care Administration from Central Michigan University in 1980. Dorothy married Edgar VanBooven in 1963 and became the mother of five children. She filed for divorce in 1972. She relied on the Divine for guidance and strength, "For those who Love God all things work together for good", and if I do my best God will do the rest were her words to live by. Dorothy worked as a professional nurse for over 50 years. She worked in many different areas of nursing: hospital, physician office, consultant, assisted living and long term care. She was a lecturer on the Educational Circuit for KU Medical Center and she taught courses in geriatrics at Avila College and at Baker University. She co-authored a book, Older Adulthood, Learning Activities for Understanding Aging, published in 1993. She also worked in retail as a sales associate at Petite Sophisticate. Dorothy was elected to the Roeland Park City Council and served as a representative for Ward I. Dorothy was a creative person, who enjoyed many hobbies; sewing, crochet, Scrap booking, gardening, jewelry making, and quilting. She made each of her grandchildren sock monkeys and at least one quilt. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and a sibling, William. Surviving siblings are Anthony Speichinger, Rose Ann Anderson, Mary Ruth Bemboom, Eva Reid, Helen Peters, and John Speichinger. Surviving children and grandchildren are daughter, Theresa (Todd) Taylor, Isaac and Ava; daughter, Donna(Eric) Fernandez, Alyssa and Alexandra; son, Gregory (Paige) VanBooven, Luke, Caleb and Lydia; son Mark (Annette) VanBooven, Stephen (Shirley) Hastings great-grandson Jayden, Tia, Quintin and Ryan VanBooven; and daughter, Marla Loveall, Zachary, Andrew and Abigail.

Services

A Visitation is set for 6:00 ~ 8:00 PM, Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Amos Family Funeral Home 10901 Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66203. A Mass is set for 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church 12800 W. 75th Street Shawnee, Kansas 66216. Inurnment will take place at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas.