Versteeg, Dorothy A. Mrs. Clarence L. 1922-2008

VERSTEEG, PRINS, DEVRIES

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/2/2011 at 18:27:27

Dorothy A. Ver Steeg
June 15, 1922--- September 17, 2008
Mrs. Dorothy Ver Steeg, age 86, of Evanston, Illinois, formerly of Orange City, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2008, at her residence.

There will be a prayer service on Monday, September 22, at 11:30am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. The Rev. Dr. Perry De Groot will officiate. Interment will follow at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. Visitation with the family will be the half hour before the service on Monday at the funeral home.
Dorothy Ann was born on June 15, 1922, in Orange City, the daughter of Charles J. and Marie (Prins) De Vries. Se was raised at Orange City, where she graduated from Northwestern Junior College.
On December 24, 1943, she married her grade school sweetheart and the love of her life, Clarence Lester Ver Steeg, in Texas, just as he was leaving for World War II. She then completed under graduate studies at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in music.
After the war, both Dorothy and Clarence attended Columbia University in New York City, New York, where she graduated with a Master's degree in music, specializing in piano performance. With "perfect pitch", she sang in the Robert Shaw Corale while in New York.
They then moved to Evanston, when Clarence took a teaching position at Northwestern University. As an extraordinarily accomplished pianist, she taught piano and performed in Evanston. She also acted as Clarence's co-author, researcher, and writer on more than a dozen books on American history and other publications. She was employed as a principal administrative officer for the architectural design firm of Powell-Kleinschmidt in Chicago, Illinois, where she wrote and edited brochures, annual reports, and other materials for the firm and its partners.
Mr. and Mrs. Ver Steeg travelled extensively, especially to Europe and including an around-the-world trip. They were part of the first western group to visit all of China after their Cultural Revolution.
For the past ten years, they have been enthusiastic and active citizens of the Presbyterian Homes, first in Lake Forest, Illinois, and then on the Evanston campus. She had tremendous respect and affection for many of the members of the staff. With countless resident colleagues, she worked to strengthen the campus services, including improving the landscaping, preparing more creative and better food in the dining room, editing the "Chimes", serving as an initial co-chairperson on the 2 Arbor Lane Council, chairing the Christmas bazaar, and advocating for renovation of the beauty/barber shop.
Clarence passed away on July 2, 2007, in Evanston, after more than 63 years of marriage.
Mrs. Ver Steeg was a member of the Northminster Presbyterian Church in Evanston. She volunteered with many music groups in the Evanston area, and she served as chairwoman of the boards of directors of the Public Library and the Historical Society and as an advisory member of the board of directors of the Northwestern University Library.
She exhibited many admirable qualities, including being determined, gracious, charming, steadfastly loyal to family and friends, very focused, efficient, always on time or ten minutes early, and a mentor, "educator", and friend. Some called her a "force of nature", having high expectations for herself and everyone else, and not understanding why others were not as organized or punctual. She was also a stupendous cook, who made baking and meal preparation look easy. She recently won a first prize for one of her new baking recipies.
Dorothy had a lifetime of devotion for her dear husband and son, and she was a supportive, uncritical, caring, and loving mother-in-law.
Survivors include her son and his wife, John and Jane Pierson Ver Steeg, of Washington, D. C.; a brother and his wife, Warren and Harriett De Vries, of Tucson, Arizona; two nephews, Philip and Klay; four great nephews and nieces; and four sisters-in-law, Nelvina Thomas, and Sadie, Susanna, and Wilmina Ver Steeg, all of Orange City.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City, IA., obit.