Dorothy Olga (Koutsky) Yindra, bid farewell to us on September 4, 2026, after 99 years and 325 days of spreading joy to all she met. Her daughter Kathleen was by her side.

Throughout her lifetime, Dorothy made - and retained - many friends wherever she went, and was an inspiring, positive role model to many.

Dorothy was born in Gary, Indiana on October 14, 1926 and within a year her parents Amos Koutsky and Amalia Vozar moved their daughters to northeast Wisconsin where Dorothy's father was raised. Dorothy’s earliest memories were of living on her grandfather's farm during the Great Depression, where she walked two miles to attend school in a one-room school house.

Dorothy graduated from Lena High School with honors in 1944 and moved to Oak Park, Illinois when she was just 17 years old. Although she had planned to attend college to become a business teacher, she changed her plans because her career at Western Electric during the height of WW2 was advancing rapidly. Dorothy realized she could earn substantially more in the world of manufacturing than she could earn by teaching. A career in education might not have been the best fit anyway, because Dorothy had artistic and design talents that she would later put to good use.

On August 28, 1948, Dorothy married her childhood friend, Joseph Yindra, and moved to Manitowoc where they owned and operated Yindra's Home Bakery from 1950 to 1973, when they retired. After attending the Wilton School of Cake Decorating and Confectionary Art, Dorothy put her artistic talents to use as a cake decorator, specializing in intricate wedding cakes, and helping Joe to expand their business. She also enjoyed fabric and decorative arts, including haute couture sewing for her daughters, until the wee hours of the morning.

After retiring, Dorothy partnered with Joe on his property development and management endeavors. Always a dog lover, she also volunteered at the Lakeshore Humane Society. Eventually, Dorothy and Joe left the cold Wisconsin winters for Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, where they had been making friends from around the world since 1969; while their summers were typically enjoyed at their summer home at Sand Bay, Door County.

If Dorothy had been born in a later generation, she most likely would have become a mechanical design engineer. Although she never applied for any patents, she was the self-proclaimed inventor of the “Smiley Face” and had numerous household inventions fashioned out of repurposed materials. Always cheerful and extremely quick witted, she also missed her calling as a stand-up comic and a ballroom dance teacher. Dorothy truly loved ballroom dancing and, after Joe died in 1985, she wintered in Lake Worth, Florida and later in California where she kept active and fit by teaching others how to dance. During these years, she continued to enjoy her summers at Sand Bay, where she never took a Green Bay sunset for granted.

In 2012, Dorothy returned to live in Manitowoc and resided at Felician Village for over fourteen years where she enjoyed telling jokes and teasing the male residents; playing and winning bingo games; and reminiscing about life through her photographs, scrapbooks, and many greeting cards received, while never complaining about growing old.

Dorothy lived the last 28 days of her life under the dedicated care of nursing staff at Aurora Hospital -Two Rivers, including 18 days at Complete Care-Manitowoc with assistance from Sharon Richardson Hospice professionals.

Dorothy, also known as “Dotty" or "Aunty Dot," was exceedingly thoughtful and generous, anonymously playing Santa Claus to many relatives throughout their childhood years. However, everyone would agree, Dorothy was a merry old soul, sharing her good fortune, any time of year, throughout her life.

Surviving family includes her two daughters, Kathleen Yindra of West Bend, WI and Susan Yancey of Manitowoc, WI; her dearly beloved grandson, Joshua and his wife Sarah Yancey of Manitowoc; two great-grandchildren, Jeremiah Joseph and Micah Louie Yancey; and her two very devoted God children Patricia and Judith White. Dorothy is also survived by her sister Caroline (Benak) who is 102 years and 5 months young, still living outside of Lena; and all of Caroline’s children - James, Jacqueline, Thomas, Michael and Janet. Janet, who corresponded consistently with Dorothy throughout the years, also regularly visited Dorothy, along with her partner John Greetan and their dog BeeBee, ever brightening Dorothy's days. Additional surviving relatives include Dorothy’s niece Lenora 'Sis” Magee and her surviving children John and Joseph; niece Ila (George) Lukes and her daughters Sherry and Shana; and nephews Edward Koutsky Jr. and Gary Alsteen. Many other nieces, nephews, and special friends survive including family-friends who continued to visit her: Ellen (Salathe) Crocker, Gerald Halderson and Amy O'Shea; and many friends she made while living at Felician Village including residents and care givers: Helen Belonger, Mike, Doris, Bob, Galen, Mary and Samantha, to name a few.

In addition to her husband and parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law Edward (Marion) Koutsky, and their sons Wayne and Eugene; and her sister and brother-in-law Violet (Edward) Alsteen, and their children: Joyce Gilligan, Earl, Thomas, and Richard Alsteen; and their grandson Leonard Magee Jr.

Dorothy will be missed by family, friends, and caregivers. But more importantly, she’ll be lovingly remembered for her quick wit, wisdom, and her kind, forgiving heart. Those who returned her affections are forever fortunate.

A public visitation, will be hosted by Dorothy’s daughter Susan Yancey at the Blessed Angela Chapel, situated in the Village Square section of the Felician Village campus, (1635 S 21st St, Manitowoc,WI) from Noon - 1PM on Friday, September 18, 2026.

Thereafter, a private memorial service and entombment will be held for family and friends at the Knollwood Memorial Park Mausoleum (1500 WI-310, Manitowoc, WI 54220) from 2-3PM, also on Friday, September 18.

Those attending the visitation or service are invited to bring a token of joy or remembrance they would like placed in Dorothy's coffin. During the private memorial service attendees will be requested to share stories and fond memories they hold dearly of Dorothy, and are encouraged to wear their most comfortable dancing shoes.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to fund the creation of a memorial bench to be placed in a park in honor of Dorothy and Joseph Yindra’s legacy.

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, Manitowoc is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting. www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com