Dorothy Louise (Menne) Reckling, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away peacefully at age 91 on November 1, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
She was born on January 17, 1935 in Peru, Illinois to Fred A. Menne and Louise S. (Hepp) Menne. She was an educator mostly in high school, teaching Office Education, Computer Science, and Accounting. She introduced the Macintosh to the high schoolers she taught. Her students loved her, often returning after graduation to visit her. She touched many lives with her love and skill at teaching.
Dorothy married Jack LeRoy Reckling on June 1, 1957. They remained married for 67 years until Jack’s passing in July 2024. Jack and Dorothy raised two daughters, Kathryn Reckling Burns and Kimberly Ann Penado. Dorothy always valued higher education, and she completed her Master’s in Education and had 60 hours beyond the Master’s. In their empty-nest years, Jack and Dorothy traveled the world, played golf, had many friends, living a wonderful life together.
Dorothy loved people, gardening, card games, and golf. She was an amazing baker and cook, always the first to bring home-baked goods to those she loved or who were in need. She and Jack lived in the Chicago suburbs where they raised their girls. Dorothy was the dedicated “barn mom”, while the girls rode horses, often getting up early to take them to horse shows or to the barn for lessons. Dorothy shared a love of dogs with her girls. The family Golden Retriever, Bear, and the Cavalier King Charles, Watson, were very dear to Dorothy’s heart. Dorothy loved when Kim brought her beloved Golden Retriever, Nala, to visit at her facility, loving Nala’s kisses and presence. As Dorothy demonstrated by caring for her mother, Kim was a constant presence and cared for both Jack and Dorothy to the end of each of their lives.
Dorothy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2019. From then on, she and Jack lived in separate homes. In 2020 during COVID, Jack learned to play the guitar, and he serenaded his beloved Dorothy with Let Me Call You Sweetheart, per her request, and You Are My Sunshine. Dorothy would beam with love when he was with her, especially during these visits when he would sing to her. Dorothy spent these years surrounded by Jack and her loving daughters, supporting her through her disease. Early on in her memory care facility, she did jigsaw puzzles, arranged flowers with the other residents, enjoyed a lot of ice cream, bus rides, and in her last weeks, continued to play weekly Bingo to the best of her ability. The facility staff loved Dorothy very much, because she was kind and always smiling.
Predeceased by her loving husband, her parents, and her brother, Dorothy’s memory is honored and kept by her loving daughters, four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. As Christians, we do not grieve without hope. Though our hearts are broken, we rejoice knowing both Dorothy and Jack are in the presence of Jesus Christ. Because of Christ’s victory over death, we look forward to the day we will see both of them again. “Let your hearts not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. . . I go to prepare a place for you.” - John 14:1-3
Per the family’s request, no funeral or memorial service will be held. For more information on Alzheimer’s Disease, see the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org
