Obituary: Dorothea Elisabeth (Kummer) Busch

Dorothea Elisabeth (Kummer) Busch, age 84, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee passed away on May 2, 2020, at her home.

Dorothea (Dore) was born on December 23, 1935, in Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany, to Hans Erich and Pauline (Laible) Kummer. She was the eldest of three children and graduated from gymnasium (high school) with a concentration in business skills.

Wanting to see more of the world, Dore moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1956. She lived with her aunt and uncle and worked as a bookkeeper. Dore married Helmut Busch on October 21, 1961, and the family grew to include three children.

In 1972, the family moved to Jones, Michigan, where Dore was employed as an accountant, eventually starting her own firm.

She and Helmut enjoyed traveling the world and took vacations to Hawaii, Russia, the Canary Islands, and made many trips to Germany to visit family. Always fascinated by aircraft, Dore was a private pilot and enjoyed flying her plane around southern Michigan. As a member of the Civil Air Patrol, she participated in search and rescue operations throughout southwestern Michigan. 

In 2008, she and Helmut retired and moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where they became members of Grace Lutheran Church. Dore enjoyed taking classes through ORICL, singing in the church choir, and participating in the church’s Blanket Workshop, making quilts to be sent overseas.

Dore is survived by her sister, Margarete Amm, of Tettnang, Germany; her brother and sister-in-law, Norbert and Renate Kummer, of Heidenheim an der Brenz, Germany; by her children, Thomas Busch and his wife, Helen, of Bloomington, Indiana, Ingrid Busch and her husband, Ken Joy, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Heidi Busch of Martin, Tennessee; and by her grandchildren, David and Daniel Joy of Oak Ridge, and Elisabeth Busch of Bloomington.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 50 years, and by her infant daughter Kathrin. 

For those who wish to make a contribution in Dore’s memory, the family requests that memorials be made to the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, 395 Belgrade Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, or to the Grace Lutheran Church Blanket Workshop, 131 W. Gettysburg Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.