Denise Dorsey-Zinn

Denise Lynne "Dee" Dorsey-Zinn, age 57, wonderful and wise, friend of critters, woman of remarkable style and substance, died at her home in Battle Ground on April 22, 2013. The good Lord brought many blessings and trials into her life over the years and she welcomed them all with joyfulness and a heart full of gratitude and praise.
Denise was happiest with her hands in the soil nurturing new growth. She was amazed by all the evidence of God's marvelous creativity in the plants, wildlife, and natural setting of her home by Moots Creek. She had an always inquisitive mind, loved learning, and was a wonderful teacher, especially about anything to do with the great outdoors.
She never turned away an animal in need and the lost and injured populace took frequent advantage. Bird or beast, creepy or crawly mattered not. She loved the innocence and rightness of a creature doing what God made it to do. After all, who are we to judge?
Denise was a beauty and woman to be prized and after his unrelenting pursuit, she surrendered and became Jeff's wife in 1982. The love affair of a lifetime began. They were blessed with two children, neither born of her body but she was Mama to both. She loved her children fiercely, as anyone who poked the she-bear quickly learned. Daughter Sara (husband - Guillaume) was her co-conspirator, best student and partner in adventure and son John (wife - Katie), the long awaited big-hearted gift. Both were loved beyond measure and were the complete fulfillment of her mother's heart.
She was born in Lafayette, Indiana, raised in Fowler, middle child of Dave and Helen (Skoog) Dorsey. She was extremely proud of her Swedish heritage, loved anything and everyone connected to the family and was a notorious collector of "family heirlooms" which loosely translated means her Grandmother Dorsey may have found it in an alley.
She so loved her daddy Dave who could always fix anything and make it right and she always credited her sweet mother Helen (deceased) as the model for what sacrificial love truly looks like. Denise finally forgave her elder sister Marcia (companion - Larry James) for once poking her with a pencil as a child leaving a permanent mark and she practiced the she-bear love early on with her younger brother Mark (wife - Mika).
Her grand-babies Jacques, Eleanor, Alexa, grand-baby-to-be Abby, and nephew and niece Mitchell and Michelle were a constant source of delight to her. She was proud of each of them and loved them all like crazy.
She was a graduate of Benton Central High School and Purdue University. Before John was born, Denise worked in the toy business as marketing director at Warren Industries/Random House. She then became a stay at home mom, amazing cook, fitness buff, master gardener, freelance writer (emphasis on the free - she contributed her talents to many local organizations), and most recently, coordinated the Sagamore West Farmers Market. She absolutely loved all the vendors, volunteers and patrons who support the local farmers market.
Denise was above all else, a child of God, a former runaway bunny (see Psalm 139), who loved Jesus Christ and his Word. She was a student of the Bible and a member of the Battle Ground Bible Church. She wanted nothing more than for her friends and family to come to a saving faith.
A visitation time will be held on Friday April 26 from 5-8 p.m. at Battle Ground Bible Church, 2430 East 600 North, West Lafayette, IN. A memorial service will follow on Saturday April 27 at 2 p.m., Pastor Kenny Loehe officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Bible Study Fellowship where she learned, laughed, and loved for many years at the Lafayette classes: BSF International, 19001 Huebner Road, San Antonio, TX 78258-4019 or online at www.bsfinternational.org. Hahn-Groeber Funeral & Cremation Services is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com