Dolores Ann Jozwiak

It is with heavy hearts, that we share the passing of our beloved mother, Dolores Ann Jozwiak (Hahn) on May 19, 2025 in Fountain Hills Arizona, just 3 short months after the loss of her dearly loved husband, Gary. Dolores, affectionately known as Dee, was born on December 2, 1940, in Midland Michigan, to Ruth I. Hahn (Hoffman) and Oscar H. Hahn, as Dee was the second of four children.
Dee’s journey through life was marked by deep devotion—to family, to education, and to the quiet but enduring beauty of her talents and passions. She is remembered with tenderness by her sisters Rosemary Hauri and Karen Russell; her children Debbie Jozwiak, Dawn Kuipers (Mark), Dana Basilico (John), and Greg Jozwiak (Holly); seven grandchildren: David Lyons (Kristin), Mackenzie Perer (Luca), Nicole Floyd (Taylor), Jonathan Kuipers, Brent Jozwiak, Bryan Basilico (Emily), and Alexa Jozwiak; and seven great-grandchildren: Jackson, Jamie, Briar, Brooklyn, Lorenzo, Emilia, and Brody. Dee was preceded in death by her parents and brother Oscar C. Hahn.
In Midland’s winding corridors of youth and promise, Dee met Gary Jozwiak while attending Midland High School. They married in 1959 and began their shared adventure in Laramie, Wyoming—Gary pursuing a degree in mathematics while playing football for the University of Wyoming, and Dee building the foundation of what would become a richly woven family life.
Returning to Michigan in 1964 marked the beginning of decades rooted in care and community. Dee poured herself into raising four children with strength and grace as Gary embraced his career as a coach and educator at Midland High School. Once their children were settled into school life, Dee quietly carved a new path—earning a Bachelor of Education degree Cum Laude through evening classes. Her dedication blossomed into more than two decades of inspired teaching at Floyd and Bullock Creek Elementary Schools.
To walk into Dee’s classroom was to step into a world built with intention and wonder. With tender precision, she crafted detailed lesson plans for her cherished third graders. Her passion for literature manifested not only through constant reading—a steady stream of books devoured from local libraries—but also through personal investment in creating a vibrant classroom library. Students saw in them not just a teacher but a guide whose love for learning lit a lifelong spark.
At home, that same attentiveness blossomed into artistry. What began as sewing out of necessity bloomed into handmade dresses for three daughters—and outfits for every Barbie doll that joined the household. Over time, this creativity spilled into interior design projects filled with warmth and charm. Dee found joy in handcrafting cards and gifts; she cultivated gardens with care and passionately collected recipes for the many meals her family would enjoy in their desert home or on the lake.
In retirement beginning in 1998—shared joyfully with Gary—they split their seasons between sunny Fountain Hills winters and serene summers at their beloved Sanford Lake home. These years brought travel adventures, laughter-filled golf games with friends, lakeside gatherings rich with stories old and new—and above all else—the deep delight of time spent with grandchildren.
Dee’s eyes lit up when speaking about those she loved most—grandchildren who filled her with pride that overflowed into every conversation—and later great-grandchildren who brought new dimensions to her joy.
A Celebration of Life honoring both Dee and Gary is being planned for this fall—a moment for all who loved her to gather in remembrance beneath skies they once shared.
For those wishing to honor Dee’s memory through giving—a cause close to their heart is the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library: https://www.gadml.org/_files/ugd/3e3420_90767948f711478f849161e931e027f5.pdf
May the many lives touched by Dee’s kindness carry forward echoes of her quiet wisdom—and may her memory remain a light on the path for all who knew her.