Zella Marie Dobbels

Zella Dobbels, loving mother to daughter Francee Trefz (husband David) and son Mark Dobbels (wife Kathy), passed from this life on March 31, 2013, at Sharon Lane Nursing Home in Shawnee, Kansas, from complications due to a broken hip. Along with her children and their spouses, she will be greatly missed by her five grandchildren David Trefz, Mathew Trefz, Daniel Trefz, Christine (Dobbels) Lyons, and Daniel Dobbels; four great grandchildren Trevor Dobbels, Ella Dobbels, Tyler Dobbels, and Annabelle Lyons; a sister, Edith Baier; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Zella was born July 8, 1923, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Martin and Frances Gorman. She was the youngest of the four Gorman daughters, who included Anna, Frances, and Edith. She also had two younger brothers, Martin and Marion. While growing up, she and her siblings helped in their mother's homeopathic medicine business. She enjoyed sharing stories of the healing of strangers who came from around the country to Kansas City to receive herbal and massage therapy from her mother.

She devoted herself to raising her children, and later helping to raise her grandchildren, and to being a constant companion and helpmate to her husband Albert Dobbels until his passing in 1994. In the 1950s she helped Al in the family business, Dobbels Hardware in Shawnee, Kansas, which they co-owned with Al's brothers from 1954 to 1972.

Zella was a hard worker and loved the simple life. Although she and Al traveled the world, her favorite place was home on the farm, which was also the favorite gathering place for her entire family every Friday night and on holidays.

She was a faithful follower of the Lord through her interpretation of scripture, which she read daily until she lost the ability to read due to dementia. Her well-worn King James Bible remained by her bedside until her final days.

Suffering does not describe Zella during her prolonged state of memory loss. She was content, agreeable, and wanting to please all the people in her life.

The family would like to thank Grace Gardens Assisted Living in Leawood, Kansas, for giving her dignity and loving care during her years of declining memory, and Sharon Lane Health Services and Crossroads Hospice for their gentle, comforting support and treatment of both Zella and her family in the final days and hours.

We thank God for these happy memories of our mom, grandma, aunt, and sister Zella. We return her to the loving care of our Creator.

Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at Amos Family Funeral Home and Crematory, followed by a memorial service at 7:00 p.m.. Burial will be Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., at Shawnee Mission Memorial Gardens.

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