Elaine Dorn

Elaine Marie (Langley) Dorn, 86, of Gladwin, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 21, 2025. She was born in Saginaw Co., MI on October 29, 1938 to Melvin and Martha (Benkert) Langley. 

Elaine grew up on her family farm in Freeland and attended Arthur Hill H.S. Upon graduation she worked at Bell Telephone and spent her weekends attending polka dances where she met Richard Lewis Dorn. They married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Auburn, had a beautiful reception at the Golden Glow Ballroom in Saginaw with a live polka band and took a road trip to California and back for their honeymoon with incredible photos to commemorate the start of their new life together. They settled in Freeland, started having children, built a house in Saginaw, had more children, rented a farm in Mayville, had a couple more children, and then most recently, as of 1971, bought their last farm in Gladwin and you guessed it, had another child.

Life on a busy farm was full of hard work and she led by example. Tending eight children while maintaining and harvesting a large garden, working in the fields, milking cows, nurturing newborn animals and organizing schedules all while creating and maintaining a home for her family were just many of the hats she wore. Elaine made clothes for her children, crocheted, knitted and quilted many afghans and quilts for everyone – babies, graduates and newlyweds. She loved to make things and promptly give them away and always had multiple projects going at the same time. She loved watching birds and NASCAR, playing cards and putting puzzles together with her family and one could not leave her house without playing 12 games of Yahtzee all at once. Her love language was food and she cooked and baked for others as much as she could. Her nature was to help others and let her faith guide her. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church for 54 years and volunteered at the Sacred Heart Mission. After most of her children left for college she became a Certified Nursing Assistant at a local nursing home for many years and then later as a home health care aide for the Gladwin County Council on Aging.

Elaine faced numerous health battles and overcame each one of them with a strong determination and a solid stubborn attitude. She was feisty. She was strong. She loved fiercely. She cared for all. She was loved. She will be missed.

Surviving are her children, Deborah (Byron) Schneid of Tempe, AZ, Tamara Piotter of Port Hope, Cherie (Phil) Van Allen of Canton, Becky (Mike) Jackson of Newaygo, Wendy (Jerry) Fowler of Commerce Twp, Kelly (Rob) Ozmun of Chelsea, Richard Dorn II of Gladwin, Jacob (Shannon) Dorn of Gladwin; 15 grandchildren, Allison, Mallory, Thalia, Katie, Sarah, Jessica, Adam, Sabrina, Amanda, Matthew, Tyler, Tiffany, Jorden, Olivia and Carly; 12 great grandchildren with another on the way. She is also survived by her siblings, Mary (Gordon) Wegener of Auburn, Joanne (Herm) Boehler of Saginaw and Gerald (Jan) Langley of Freeland. Elaine was predeceased by her parents and husband.

Per her wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gladwin. Visitation will be held in the church vestibule at 10:00 A.M. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pardee Cancer Treatment Fund at 4005 Orchard Drive, Ste. 1012A, Midland, MI 48670 and Sacred Heart Catholic Church. A private interment will be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home. www.hallkokotovichfuneralhome.com