Dr. Dorothea S. Franzen
Dr. Dorothea S. Franzen, 96,
died Wednesday (Dec. 31, 2008) at Kidron Bethel Health Care Center in North
Newton. She was born March 17, 1912, in Emporia to Jacob H. and Katharina
(Quiring) Franzen. They and a sister, Wanda Franzen, preceded her in death. Dorothea
attended Hillsboro public schools and graduated from Hillsboro High School in
1930. She received the bachelor of arts degree with a major in biology at
Bethel College, the master of arts in 1943 and Ph.D. in 1946 with a major in
biology and minor in paleontology at The University of Kansas.
She began her teaching career
in Kansas elementary and high schools and as assistant instructor a The
University of Kansas.
She taught at Cedar Crest College
in Allentown, Pa.; Washburn University in Topeka; and Illinois Wesleyan
University in Bloomington, Ill.
She was a member of Phi Kappa
Phi, member and chapter president of Sigma Xi, Phi Sigma and Delta Kappa Gamma,
a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a
member of the American Malaeological Society Inc, serving as council member and
a presidency.
She received the
Distinguished Achievement Award from Bethel College in 1975. She was active in
the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women.
Dorothea was a member of
First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro and associate member in other locals where
she was living, including Bethel College Mennonite Church in her retirement
years.
Her extensive list of
publications tell of her research on mollusks, sp terrestrial snails, nearly 60
years. This took her across the country and to England, Germany, Australia and
New Zealand.
When in 2003, she was no
longer physically able to continue despite unfinished work, she gave her snail
collection to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, where it would be
preserved and available for reference.
Dorothea has citations for
her mentorship of students, for her teaching excellence and for 'her landmark
contributions to her discipline.'
Dorothea is survived by a
sister, Ruth Franzen of North Newton.
Family will receive friends
from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday at Jost Funeral Home, 401 S. Washington in
Hillsboro. Burial will follow at 11 a.m. at Haven of Rest Cemetery in
Hillsboro.
Memorial service will be at 2
p.m. Thursday at Bethel College Mennonite Church, 2600 College Ave. in North
Newton, with Pastor Heidi Regier Kreider and Pastor Ruth R. Harder officiating.
Memorial contributions may be
made to Bethel College, 300 E. 27th St., North Newton, KS 67117-0531.
Condolences may be sent to
the family at jost@
jostfuneralhome.com.
