Dorothy Schlagel

Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Dorothy Amelia Schlagel, peacefully entered heaven on February 5, 2017. She was born to Ernest and Dora (Ellis) Burk in Hartford, Connecticut on May 26, 1924. Dorothy graduated from Buckley High School, Hartford, CT in 1942. In January of 1945, she met a handsome Navy sailor, Donald Schlagel, at a YWCA dance. They married in August of 1945 and in 1946, moved to Don’s hometown, Yakima, WA. They bought a small orchard and Mom, an only child raised in the city, embraced the challenges of farm life and raised a family of four girls. She was active in the Selah community serving as a School Board member, teaching Sunday school at her Methodist church, leading a 4-H group, and singing in the Bel Canto Choir. She was an avid, self-taught seamstress, knitter, and homemaker, loved playing bridge and traveling around the US, Mexico, and Europe. She is survived by her four daughters and their husbands: Donna (Jim) Fuhlman, Sharon (Lloyd) Handlos, Jan Pease (Ed Hakala), Susan (Steve) Potter; ten grandchildren: Curt Fuhlman (Julie), Angela Starkweather, Christine Lazzaretto (Nick), Stephanie Harwell (Brian), Brian Thomas Pease (Jodie), David Pease (Kathy), Justin Pease (Rhea), Seth Pease (Maria), Kendra Wellner (Bryan), Sarah Kelley (John) and 21 great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Bill Schlagel, sister-in-law, Leora Schlagel, and many nieces and nephews. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 66 years, Donald Leland Schlagel. Dorothy’s family is very thankful for the years of loving, attentive care provided by her caregiver, Nora Escobar and for the compassionate, tender care provided by the Apple Creek staff during this last week of her life. The family will gather for a celebration of her life in early spring. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dorothy Schlagel, please visit our flower store.