Doris Marshall

Doris Dieckman Marshall, 90, formerly of Benzonia, MI, passed away peacefully on February

5, 2024, in Rockford, MI, with family by her side.

Doris Irene was born on her family’s farm in Corunna, MI, to Lee and Beatrice (Stilson) Stewart

on August 14, 1933. After losing her father in an auto/train accident when she was 3 years old,

Doris eventually moved with her mother to Beulah where Bea ran a private nursing home. After

graduation from Benzonia High School in 1951, Doris went off to nursing school at Hurley

Hospital in Flint, returning home after one semester to help her mother.

Doris married John Willis Dieckman of Benzonia on August 15, 1954. Together they had three

children: Debra, Diana, and John Stewart Elliott. After 32 years of marriage, John Dieckman

was tragically killed in an auto accident in 1984.

In September 1988, Doris married John Nevius Marshall, her high school sweetheart.

Besides both her husbands, Doris was preceded in death by her son John Stewart Elliott

Dieckman (age 11), both of her parents, her brother Norman Stewart, and sisters Aleatha

Kostel and Rosena Mimranek.

Doris is survived by her daughters, Debra Dieckman of Greenville, MI; Diana (Mark) Iverson of

Grand Rapids, MI; stepsons John P. (Connie) Marshall of Beulah, MI; Neil (Shelley) Marshall of

Ludington, MI; stepdaughter Laura (Nicholas) Kassanos of Pentwater, MI; grandchildren,

Courtney (Joshua Crocker) Marshall of Traverse City, MI; Thomas (Kasey) Marshall of Wyoming,

MI; Meghan Marshall of Canton, MI; Preston (Karely) Byrd-Nowsch of Livonia, MI; Molly

Marshall of Grand Rapids, and Nathan (Ken Caler) Nowsch of Lansing, MI; three precious

great-grandchildren, Sophia and Alistair Crocker of Traverse City and Kendall Marshall of

Wyoming; several nieces and nephews, and a special extra daughter, Sandy Norton of Beulah.

Doris was a woman who let good deeds demonstrate her quiet faith. As a member of the First

Congregational Church of Benzonia since girlhood, she served as Church Clerk for some years.

She also accompanied church and community choirs on occasion and played for special

events at both the Benzonia church and the Blaine Christian Church.

That faith and her desire to serve others extended to the wider community. With her first

husband, Doris helped found the National Reyes’ Syndrome Foundation in 1976, which was

instrumental in the near eradication of the illness that took their young son’s life. They also

established a scholarship, “The Husky,” in young John’s name at Benzie Central High School

which awards financial aid in perpetuity.

Her community-minded spirit also led Doris to participate in annual March of Dimes drives, the

Zonta club, and many efforts over the years on behalf of the BCHS Band Boosters. In addition,

she co-founded Solid Ground: Understanding Substance Abuse in 1986 with Janet Smeltzer.

The program ran for several years at Benzie County area schools and beyond. Doris also

served as Director of Benzie Home Health Care for 10+ years in the 1980’s & 90’s.

A talented pianist, Doris accompanied the Benzonia High School choir for some years while a

student there. At age 14, she attended Interlochen Arts Academy studying piano for six weeks

at summer camp. In 1968, Doris began a 40-year career as a piano teacher, instructing over

240 children and adults in the art and joy of playing that instrument. She derived great pleasure

from near-daily piano practice herself over her long life.

Most important to Doris, though, was her family and their home. The quintessential

homemaker, she kept the family homestead in tip top shape for nearly 65 years. Besides that,

she sewed many clothing items for her kids and neighbors, cooked and baked delicious family

meals, tended a lush garden, refinished furniture, and, in general, created an idyllic childhood

for her children. In later years, Doris enjoyed a more relaxing life with her second husband,

which included traveling, reading aloud to each other, watching old movies, enjoying the birds,

and spending quality time with family and friends.

Doris was sweet, kind, patient, and loving, and a beautiful woman both inside and out. She had

a twinkle in her eye and a smile that lit up her face, especially when dogs or children were

around. She was always even-tempered and had a subtle wit and dry sense of humor which

popped out frequently. Doris’s arms and her home were always open to family, friends, and

neighbors. She believed she could accomplish whatever she set her mind to, and she did! The

strength of character Doris modeled for her family and others was truly astounding,

considering all the tragedy she lived through. But she always accepted what life gave her and

never complained, just got on with it. Doris infused all of these approaches to life into her two

daughters, who will treasure her memory forever and miss her every day.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life service honoring Doris will be held at the First

Congregational Church of Benzonia on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 2:00 PM. Memorial

contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church of Benzonia.

To share online condolences, visit grcremation.com/obituaries. To watch the service livestreamed online, go to benzoniacongregational.org, scroll down to the Facebook icon and click

on it.