Dorothy Place
October 12, 1923 - June 29, 2016
Obituary
Dorothy E. Place, 92, of Platteville, died on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Manor Care Health Services, Platteville. Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2016 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Pastor Dan Biddick will officiate. Burial will be at Lima Union Cemetery, rural Platteville. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday. Memorials may be made to the Dorothy E. Place Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.
Dorothy was born October 12, 1923, in Platteville, the daughter of Neil and Gladys (Steinbach) Craven. She grew up on a farm at Union and attended the Union Rural School for eight years and graduated from the Platteville High School in 1941. She married Laurel Brown in 1942 and later married Kenneth Place, on December 15, 1956. He preceded her in death on January 10, 1976. She and Kenneth farmed together in Grant County. She was a long time member of the Lima Union Church and its Ladies Aid program. She was also a member of the Rachel Rebekah Lodge No. 114 where she served as secretary for a number of years. Dorothy was an avid card player; she enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles, and spent many days at the Platteville Senior Center. She was also very talented at baking cakes and decorating them; she made wedding and birthday cakes for many family members. She is survived by her children, Barbara (Tom) Steckelberg of Mesa, AZ; Larry (Mary) Brown of Cross Plains, WI; Blanche (Dale Huinker) Smith of Reedsburg; Bruce (Mary) Place of rural Platteville; daughter-in-law, Linda Brown of Livingston; son-in-law, Doug Eck of Platteville; ten grandchildren, Todd (Lisa) Steckelberg, Beth Steckelberg, Holly (Gary) Dinga, Larry “Chad” Smith, Justin Huinker, Julie (Kyle Christopherson) Place, Michael (Sarah) Place, Amy Place, Curtis Eck, and Joshua Eck; two great-grandsons, Nicholas and Joshua Dinga; and sister, Bernita Jenkins of Platteville. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Rex Brown on June 17, 2014; daughter, Cynthia Eck on March 25, 2008, grandson, Neil Brown on March 29, 1980, and son-in-law, Larry Smith on June 17, 1984.