Dorothy M. Kreeger-Brown

Dorothy Kreeger-Brown ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Williams-Gores Funeral Home on Mar. 14, 2026.Dorothy Marie Kreeger-BrownA courageous, strong woman with the philosophy, "when one door closes another door opens".Dorothy was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on April 27, 1925 and she was the apple of her father's eye…She was the daughter of Peter and Katherine Kreeger. They lived at 219 E. North Street along with her beloved brothers, ML and John Kreeger. ML, John, and Dorothy attended Lincoln School until the 8th grade and then on to Kalamazoo Central for their high school years. Dorothy loved the theatre and acting, thus her favorite teacher was Mr. Howard Chenery who was the drama teacher at Kalamazoo Central. Her acting career didn't end there…Life wasn't always easy as the Great Depression began in 1929 and everyone did whatever they could to put food on the table and keep their families safe and warm. Her parents, Pete and Katie had opened their cigar shop at 250 E. Michigan during prohibition in 1924 and her father had a private club there called, The Live & Let Live Club. Dorothy shares more…"Following prohibition in 1933 my father applied for a beer-wine license. My mother had saved up $600 that she earned letting my father and his men friends play poker at our home. Mother, would always make the coffee and a nice lunch and they would tip her for serving it. With her $600 they had enough to buy what they needed for their beer garden. The cigar shop floors were all white tile trimmed with a black, green, and maroon tile. They built white lattice work over the kitchen with imitation green leaves growing on it. The ceiling was green to match the vine. When all the work was finished my father, mother, my brothers John and ML, and myself sat around the table and said, what shall we name it?" "We all looked up and I can't remember which one said, "The Green Top". "We all agreed that would be fine." "We kids had to work very hard to help our parents operate that business. I guess that's why we've always been so close". She goes on to say to her grand-daughter, Katie, "You come from good people, Katie, all owned their own business and worked hard and made a go of life!" The Green Top Tavern, aka known to her and all of the family, as "the store" remains open for business at the same location in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at 250 E. Michigan Avenue. Dorothy would also tell of how her mom, Katie, would make huge kettles of soup and her father, Pete, would invite hungry families to come in and eat at "the store" during the depression. She was very proud of her parents for helping others and she felt very lucky to have food to eat and a warm home to live in. She too was proud of her Dutch heritage and talked about how difficult it must have been crossing the ocean to come to America for her grandparents, the Robyn's, and their children including her Mom, Katherine. She loved her Grandpa Robyn who would tell her he loved her from "coast to coast". Her Grandpa Robyn was a builder and was involved in building the Kalamazoo eastside's, neighborhood bar known at The Gull Road Tavern, aka The GRT. Her Grandpa Kreeger owned a coal and wood business and delivered each by horse and wagon. Her Grandpa and Grandma Kreeger lived next door to her on E. North Street only separated by the barn that housed the horse and wagon for their coal and wood business. Those homes and barn remain to this day. The Directory of Streets and Businesses of 1920 lists another business her Grandpa Kreeger was involved in as McKerring & Kreeger dba Jack's Place (Cigars, Tobacco, Pool, Ice Cream, and Soft Drinks). Times were not getting any easier as WWII began in 1939 and she would see her brother, ML, off to fight in the war. She and her brother, John continued to help their parents in the family business. She too worked as a payroll clerk at the Checker Cab Company in Kalamazoo.In 1947 she gave birth to her daughter, Christy and later that same year lost her father to a heart attack brought on by diabetes. She was devastated. She and her daughter lived above "the store" in one of the apartments and four and one-half years later, she gave birth to her son, Peter Kreeger, whom she named after her father. Not long after her son was born, she moved into her home that she and her husband built on Nazareth Road in Kalamazoo and became a true "Eastsider" along with both of her brothers and their families who settled on Ira Ave a couple of blocks from each other. Summer time was busy with Eastwood Little League and working in the concession stand and gardening… growing all the fresh food for her family. When school started she was busy as a Cub Scout Leader. During this time there were the productions by the Scouts at Brucker Elementary School where her daughter Christy, was the pianist for those events. Dorothy also was busy with teaching Sunday school at Sunnyside Methodist Church where she was a charter member. She also sold Copperware for the CopperCraft company and did so well she became the District Sales Manager. She had work ethic…she was strong and she had a great mind for business. She was married, had two kids, a couple of dogs that she had rescued, a home, and she thought all was well. Then life changed…In order to protect herself and her children she became a single parent which was hardly fashionable back then. Most of the time in those days, divorced women with children were shunned but she dug deep…She needed a full time job in order to support her kids and she did just that. Was it easy…absolutely not!!! Was she scared and worried, you bet she was, but she gathered every ounce of strength she had, and persevered. She explained "if you are depressed, grab a scrub brush, get on your hands and knees, and scrub a floor". "If you aren't feeling well, get up out of bed, and get to work!" Work lists were followed daily thus her home was always clean and neat and her yard and flower beds were always well manicured. Too, her large garden was weeded and watered by carrying large buckets of water several yards, in order to accomplish the task. Gas for her car was purchased on a specific day each week. Also there was a specific day for grocery shopping with coupons and a stop at the day-old bread store for bread, and sometimes where 7 donuts were purchased, cut into thirds, to be enjoyed as a treat for Dorothy and her two children. There were no welfare checks or food stamps for Dorothy and her kids, just hard work and lots of pride. Her kids wore clean hand-me-downs and were expected to work along -side of her. She was strict with unwritten expectations from her children who were to be respectful and display honorable behavior. Her bills were paid and she and her children lived on a well planned budget. Her car was old and had some holes in the floor boards but those holes were covered with mats. However when rain water collected deep under the viaduct in Kalamazoo, one had to lift their feet up in the car as the water would spray into those holes…but no matter, the car got her to her job at WMU and her daughter to school at Kalamazoo Central. Once a week, her Mom, Katie, and her two aunts, Anna and Cora would bring groceries and prepare a wonderful, delicious dinner and have it ready when Dorothy arrived home from work. The kitchen, those nights, was alive with song and laughter and each night the same song was sung by Dorothy and her kids…each singing to each other, "your my honey bunny…and I always love you…forever more…good night… sweet dreams". That ended their day…Years passed and then her life changed once again…She re-kindled a relationship with the man of her dreams whom she was to marry before the war changed the course of their lives. She and Dr. William J. Brown were finally married and they never looked back… creating a life of love and fulfillment. They worked side by side in their medical practice during which time she obtained her PA-C degree which she was very proud of. They built their Richland Professional Building in Richland on the site that was a particular accomplishment for Dorothy…You see that site many years before was the home of a gentleman's club that had denied membership to her father as he was a bar owner. She knew it hurt her father, whom she loved dearly and she promised herself that someday she would own that property and she did! During the time of building their Richland Professional Building, a large three story white brick structure with multiple office suites that she leased to other professionals including an office for Planned Parenthood. Leasing to Planned Parenthood lead to other issues, however she stood her ground even with the chanting and picketing that followed. She believed in the rights of women. During the time they were building their office building, they too were building Dorothy's dream castle complete with an indoor swimming pool and sauna on Gull Lake. Her castle was completed with the addition of her gargoyles which have been attributed with the power to ward off evil spirits, guarding the building they occupy and protecting those inside. Let the fun begin! They joined the Gull Lake Country Club, danced, played golf, played tennis, restored a Model T, drove a Corvette, and enjoyed the beauty of Gull Lake in their high-end Chris-Craft powerboat. Dorothy's motto was "work hard, play hard" and they did just that. In addition to working full time each week they provided free podiatric care to the Sisters of St. Joseph and cared for her husband's aunt and uncle. As time went on they began looking into property in the U.P. and Delton and began another one of their life chapters.After growing up and working in the family business, The Green Top Tavern in Kalamazoo, Dorothy was well acquainted with a bar's operation therefore, when she found a bar in Delton that was for sale named Mr. Thirsty's she was intrigued. She thought it would be a great business for her son…hence the bar was purchased and re-named, Peter's Food & Spirits. She called and asked her daughter, Christy to join the team as well. She and her husband were talking retirement…selling her home, her beloved castle, on Gull Lake…and moving to Delton, and so they did just that. They purchased their Delton home located on Big Cedar Lake and put in a swimming pool. They helped at the bar….but in their early 70's had another calling…Big Manistique Lake in Curtis, Michigan. How big is Big Manistique Lake in Curtis, Michigan…its 10,130 acres and is one of the largest inland lakes in Michigan. A fishermen's dream come true with great fishing options including walleye, perch, smallmouth bass, bluegill, panfish, northern pike and muskie. Dorothy so appreciated all that her husband had done for her in all that she had desired…she thought it was only fitting to honor his dream of living in the U.P., hence another chapter began and that of building their log home located on 8 plus acres on Big Manistique Lake. Now mind you this isn't just any log home but one that was featured in the Spectacular 1998 Design Source Annual, Log Home Design Ideas magazine. One of the most beautiful features of her home was the two story Lake Superior stone fireplace that was built by non-other than, Delton's own craftsman, Gerry Hayward . Dorothy referred to Gerry and his assistant as "two boys from Delton" in the magazine's interview with her. Dorothy loved to entertain and hosted lively dinner parties. She and her husband fished, had fun snowmobiling, were members of the Newberry Country Club, golfed, bowled, and danced! They loved attending the Harvest Moon Ball and won the 1999 trophy for the best swing dancers that year. She enjoyed her hot tub which was located on the deck facing the lake, through the double doors, right off her bedroom. She was also known as "the first lady of Curtis" as her husband was the Portage Township Supervisor. September of 1997 brought them to Washington, DC to attend the National Association of Town and Townships Legislative & Educational Conference as her husband, Dr. William J. Brown was being awarded an economic and community development grant for his outstanding community leadership in the American Hometown Leaders Award Program sponsored by the National Center for Small Communities. The American Hometown Leadership Award program recognized elected officials who have provided exemplary leadership in their community. Needless to say she was very proud of her husband. She explained in her magazine interview, "he's one of those guys who can do anything and do it well", she said, adding, "plus he plays musical instruments. He's totally 100 percent talented."Next chapter…They loved their home in the UP however they decided to purchase a home in Sedona, Arizona to spend the winter months. After a few years, they sold that home and purchased another home in Cottonwood, Arizona. Dorothy loved her Arizona homes and the warm weather however her husband always missed Curtis, Michigan and Big Manistique Lake so they sold their Arizona property and home they came, never to leave again…"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." This is a quote written by Henry David Thoreau. Dorothy's husband captured this quote on a sign that visitors would pass-by leading up to their beautiful log home. His desire was to live until he was 100 years old with the love of his life, his wife, Dorothy, whom he had nicked named, Freddie, in these woods, in his log home, by the water. He nearly fulfilled his dream, passing at the age of 99 years old in December of 2022, spending a short time with his wife in a nursing home in Newberry, Michigan. Unfortunately, Dorothy's health commanded she spend the later years of her life being cared for in the nursing facility. There she again enjoyed performing. Her daughter, Christy, was invited to one of her special performances where she sang the song, "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue", never missing a beat. She was a true performer…on tune…smiling…and moving her body to the beat of the music."Five foot two, eyes of blue, But oh, what those five foot could do, Has anybody seen my girl? Turned up nose, turned down hose, Never had no other beaus, Has anybody seen my girl? Now if you run into a Five foot two, covered with fur, Diamond rings and all those things, Betcha' life it isn't her, But could she love, could see woo? Could she, could she, could she coo? Has anybody seen my girl? Turned up nose, turned down hose, Never had no other beaus, Has anybody seen my girl? Now if you run into a Five foot two, covered with fur, Diamond rings and all those things, Betcha' life is isn't her, But could she love, could she woo? Could she, could she, could she coo?" Has anybody seen my girl?"Dorothy had worked so many years…she continued to work the front desk, answering the phone at the nurse's station. That sometimes caused a stir….but no matter…she was always willing to help, sing, and mosey down the hallways of the nursing home…Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money, maybe we're ragged and funny…But, we'll travel the road sharing our load, side by side. Through all kinds of weather, what if the sky should fall…Just as long as we're together it really doesn't matter at all…We've all had our quarrels and parted but we'll be the same as we started…Just traveling the road, singing our song, side by side…..was the theme song of Dorothy and her kids. One of her messages, she had written, in 1999 was…"Dear Christy, You, Peter, and I have fought through many tough times and we've always come out on top. First, you have to make up your mind what you want to do and then fight like hell to win." She too was quoted in one of her interviews, "If you're not going to do it while you're alive, you won't do it when you're dead." What a gal!We have almost lost Mom a few different times…Times when doctors and hospital staff said, "just leave her go"…and yet our Mom continued to press on after hearing our voices and knowing we were right there with her…Just before celebrating her 100th birthday (April 27, 1925) again hospital staff gave us the same story…and yet once again, Mom surprised them too…Following her 100th birthday celebration Mom began another new gig, that of being a PURSE MODEL for a fund raiser for the Golden Leaves Living Center , in Newberry, Michigan, where Mom has resided since May of 2016. In a few short weeks, we will be celebrating Mom's next birthday…She will be 101 years old…and the theme for this year's birthday will be the 1961 Disney's 101 Dalmatians!Dorothy Marie Kreeger-Brown passed away on March 12, 2026 joining her husband, the love her life, Dr. William J. Brown in their beautiful log home in heaven. There, they will continue to love each other dearly, forever!"You have been the Queen of your Castle on Gull Lake and the First Lady of Curtis living in your spectacular Log Home…rest in Peace, dear Mother! You have earned it!"Your loving daughter and son…Christy and Peter.We wish to thank the staff members of Tendercare located in Munising, Michigan…especially, Winter Bailey and the staff members of The Golden Leaves Living Center in Newberry, Michigan, especially Timothy and Mary Fillmore ,Bonnie Davis, Donald Gordon, and Angela Fischer for their loving care of our dear Mother. Too, we wish to thank all of the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & Health Care Center that took such good care of Mom and a special thanks to Tracy Paramski, Director of Social Services & Risk Management/Patient Advocate/UR for always being there!A gathering of family and friends will take place on Sunday, March 29, 2026 from 3:00-7:00 PM at Heroes (Formally Peter's Food & Spirits) 121 S Grove St, Delton, MI 49046. Please visit www.williamsgoresfuneral.com to share a memory or leave a condolence message for Dorothy's family.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.