Dorothy Ganser Van Hoogen

Long time Groton resident Dorothy Ganser Van Hoogen passed away on September 17th at her home with loved ones at her side. She was born Dorothy Ganser in Jamestown, North Dakota on February 19, 1922, the daughter of Matilda and Edward Ganser. She attended a one-room schoolhouse in Weld Township and graduated from St. John’s Academy in Jamestown in 1939. She then moved to Chicago, IL where she met her beloved husband Andre Van Hoogen who was also from the Jamestown area. They were married May 19, 1944. His career with the U.S. Army took them to Frankfurt and Hanau, Germany, Fort Smith, Arkansas, San Antonio, Texas, Avondale Estates, Georgia and back to Chicago. They moved to Groton, MA in 1962 where they raised their six children together until he passed away in 1984.

Dot, as she was affectionately known, was an active member of the Groton community. A civic-minded person, she was result oriented with leadership capabilities which made her a valued member of many religious, civic, and political organizations. Dot was the recipient of the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce Service and Leadership Award in 2002.

Dorothy’s professional career included working for Montgomery Ward while in Chicago, the Counter Intelligence Corp in Frankfurt, Germany and as a Shaklee Distributor in Groton.

Mrs. Van Hoogen’s interests included painting, gardening, playing bridge and traveling which took her all over the U.S. and to France, Holland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, England, Ireland, and Italy. She also enjoyed theater, parades and concerts.

Besides her many friends, nieces and nephews, she leaves two daughters, Andrea (Keith) Hand of Keene, NH and Susan (Donald) Coffey of Atchinson, KS and three sons, William (Sara) of Odessa, FL, and Phillip and Steven Van Hoogen both of Groton. In addition 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren survive her.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, her adult son Allan, infant sons Christopher and Jeffrey, granddaughter Heather Van Hoogen, brothers Frank and George Ganser, and sisters Virginia Zimmerman, Rose Bonifas and Catherine Reardon Lee.

Those who wish may make donations in Dorothy’s name to St. John’s Academy, 215 SE 5th St., Jamestown, ND 58401 or the Dorothy Ganser and Andre Van Hoogen Scholarship Fund (Commissioners of Trust Funds, Town of Groton, 173 Main St., Groton, MA 01450).

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