Dorothy Body

Dorothy Helena Emma Kleinschmidt Body passed gently from this world late Sunday night, May, 17, 2020, just shy of her 101st birthday. What a tremendous gift to have had her with us for so long. Dorothy was born on a farm in Hamburg, Wisconsin, on May 23, 1919, to Lena and Otto Kleinschmidt. She had one sister and four brothers. After high school, the family settled in Wausau, Wis., where Dorothy worked in a record store. Just prior to WWII, a young soldier named Golden Francis Body walked in, and a love story began. After the war, D-Day 1 and two Purple Hearts, Dorothy and Golden married on January 5, 1945. They made their home in Birmingham, Alabama. Dorothy is survived by their three children, Frank Body, Dorothy Orr, Donna Burgess (Dean); five grandchildren, Christy Sharp, Catherine Sharp Higgins (Jamie), Claire Burgess (Aaron Caffee), Andrew Burgess, Mark Burgess; and one precious great-granddaughter, Emmy Sharp. She was predeceased by her husband Golden in 1987, as well as all five of her siblings, Edmund, Wilbur, Erwin, John, and Verna. Dorothy was a woman of great faith, sweet spirit, and humble character, with a pure servant’s heart. She never met a stranger and was always ready with a fresh cup of coffee and a plate of food for anyone at her door. She served her God, her family and her friends tirelessly and with pure joy. Whatever she had, she was eager to share, whether a dollar from her wallet or a spoonful of pudding from her tray. She never complained about her aches and pains, her poor vision or inability to hear. Instead, she found delight and gratitude in the smallest of things. Her resiliency and persistent joy were an inspiration to all who loved and cared for her during her long and beautiful life. In her final years, her mind often traveled back to the farm in Wisconsin. From her wheelchair, she milked Guernsey cows and picked out her dress for the dance in the cheese factory. In her sweet mind, everyone she had ever loved was alive, and we were all meeting at the farm tomorrow. We leave tomorrow, she’d say with excitement, always tomorrow. Have you packed? We leave tomorrow. Tomorrow is here, and now she’s home. The family is thankful to First Lutheran, Roebuck Baptist and Trinity United Methodist churches for the many visits, cards, flowers and gifts to our grandmother over the last few years as she resided at Fair Haven. We are indebted to the staff, nurses and doctors who cared for her all these many years. Our heart is especially full of gratitude for the CNAs who daily loved on our grandma. A private memorial service for immediate family will be held on Saturday, May 23rd, Dorothy’s 101st birthday. In lieu of flowers, we request memorials be made to Fair Haven Fountain of Love, 1520 Cooper Hill Road, Birmingham, AL 35210.