Eleanor Ann Doersam October 3, 1929 - August 22, 2022

We celebrate the life and mourn the loss of our beloved sister, aunt, and great-aunt, Eleanor Ann Doersam, age 92, who passed away August 21, 2022, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her brother, Paul (Mary); nieces and nephews, Rebecca Doersam, Diane (Joseph) Churches, David (Lynda) Doersam, Mark (Kelli) Doersam; step-nieces, Karen (Stephen) Hunt, Vicky (Timothy) Phipps; great-nieces, Lindsay (Matthew) Roberts, Kylie Churches, Jordyn Doersam; and step-great-nieces and nephews, Amanda (Winslow) Chapman, Brittany Goodwin, Stephen, Brandon and Hudson Hunt.

Eleanor Ann Doersam was born October 3, 1929, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Mary Ann (Howard) Doersam and Harry C. Doersam. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Rev. H. Arthur and John Doersam.

Born at the beginning of the Depression, Eleanor always had an intense sense of history, a love of learning and an appreciation for her parents’ sacrifices. She was extremely loyal to her family including her parents, brothers and their wives, her loved nieces and nephews and cousins. Following her graduation from Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, she attended the University of Michigan earning an AB Degree in Education and an MA Degree in Guidance and Counseling. She then began a 41-year career in education, beginning with two years in Cheboygan and ending with a 39-year association with the Lansing Eastern High School family. She received the coveted appointment as principal of Lansing Eastern in 1983, thus becoming the first female in the 122-year history of the Lansing School District to hold such a position. A lifelong Episcopalian, she was an active participant in all phases of St. John's Episcopal Church in Saginaw and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Lansing. She loved her many friends and colleagues. She enjoyed many leadership roles in the community. Eleanor was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where she sang in the choir, was a lay reader, and was the first woman Senior Warden. She was also a longtime member of the American Red Cross, past president of the U of M Alumni Association, founding member of the M-Club for women at U of M, and a founding member of the Eastern High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 25, 2022, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 218 Ottawa St., Lansing. Her family will receive friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, and beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday at the church. Entombment will take place in Oakwood Memorial Mausoleum in Saginaw on Friday, August 26, 2022. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or to Eastern High School in memory of Eleanor Doersam. Online condolences may be left for her family at www.EstesLeadley.com.

Posted online on August 22, 2022

Published in Lansing State Journal August 22, 2022