Elaine Dolan

Elaine Margaret (Johnson) Dolan completed her journey on Earth on September 30, 2022 at the home of her son Glenn in Iuka, MS.  She was surrounded with love as she passed into the embrace of those who walked before her and into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our blue-eyed Elaine was the matriarch of both the Johnson and Dolan clans.  She was born in Oglive, MN in late August 1926.  The second daughter of Henry and Effie, she was the middle child of her six siblings.

Her family moved to Flint, MI when she was a toddler.  Growing up during the Great Depression she learned to sew her own clothing, a skill that she refined and perfected over the many years of her life.

Elaine graduated from Central High School in Flint in 1944. She joined the war effort by getting a job at AC working on an assembly line making parts for machine guns.  It was at AC that she met her future husband, Douglas Dolan.  They dated for 4 years and were wed in her parents living room on July 29, 1948.

Elaine and Doug welcomed their son Glenn in 1953, daughter Maureen in 1957, and daughter Kathleen in 1960.  The family moved to Detroit in 1960 and Elaine was kept busy raising their family and putting her multitude of skills to use. She cooked tasty meals on a tight budget, sewed the family’s  clothes, including winter coats, snow pants, purses and even Doug’s sport coats.  Maureen and Kathleen definitely had the best dressed Barbies in the neighborhood.

In 1973 Doug’s job took the Dolans to Schaumburg, IL.  After retirement, Doug and Elaine sold their home and embarked on a 10 year travel adventure.  They took their travel trailer and went from south Texas to Halifax, Nova Scotia to the Pacific Northwest and back to Michigan.  They criss-crossed the continent, always exploring and making friends as they went along.  McAllen, Texas is where they made their winter home base, and summered in Durand, Michigan.  While in Texas, Elaine helped to organize the people with sewing machines in the community into making quilts for the local churches to use in their homeless shelters.

In 1998 they returned to the Flint area, eventually settling in Swartz Creek. As Doug’s health began to limit his mobility, Elaine became his dedicated caregiver.  Their love story continued until Doug’s death in 2011.  Elaine stayed in Swartz Creek until 2020 when she relocated to Iuka, MS to be closer to Glenn.

Our hearts are breaking at the loss of our deeply loved Elaine.  She was a gentle soul who lived with grace and love. We hold the memories of her kindness, charm, and style close to our hearts.  We know that we were blessed and lucky to have had her in our lives.

Elaine is survived by Glenn (Sherry) Dolan of Iuka, MS; Maureen (Richard) Valentine of Lake Forest Park, WA; Kathleen (Jorma) Lankinen of Ishpeming Township, MI; Grandchildren Christopher Martello of Cedar Rapids, IA; Emily Martello of Marquette, MI and Gemma (Eric) Martello of Marquette, MI; Great-Grandchildren Amelia and Gryffin Martello, both of Marquette, MI; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Douglas, her parents, Henry and Effie (Swanson) Johnson and her six siblings; Robert, H.Jeanette McVannel, Harvey, Clarence, Alvin and Melvin and their respective spouses.

Funeral services will be held 12PM Saturday, October 8, 2022 at Peace Presbyterian Church, 1521 N. Elms Rd., Flint. Visitation will be held from 10AM until the time of service at the church. Burial will take place on Sunday at Lakeview Cemetery in Ludington. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com