Dorothy Zehnder​, Matriarch Of Frankenmuth's Bavarian Inn, Dead At 101

FRANKENMUTH, MI — Dorothy Zehnder, matriarch of the popular Frankenmuth restaurant Bavarian Inn, died Sunday of natural causes at her home, according to the restaurant. She was 101.

Zehnder dedicated more than 85 years of her life to the inn. She began working as a waitress in the 1930s when the Inn was known as Fischer’s. She eventually met her husband, William "Tiny" Zehnder and they took over the business, renaming it in the 1950s.

The restaurateur also authored three cookbooks: "Cookies and Bars," "Come Cook with Me" and "From My Kitchen to Yours. She was also an inductee in the 2020 Michigan Women's Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Saginaw Lifetime Achievement Award.

Zehnder was born December 1921 in Reese, Michigan, roughly 10 miles from Frankenmuth where she spent most of her life. She was a lifelong member of the St. Lorenz Lutheran Church and oversaw the service of thousands of people a day and the creation of 900,000 meals a year.

Funeral services will be held at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church. Details will be released later by her family. She will be buried at St. Lorenz Cemetery alongside her husband of 63 years, William “Tiny” Zehnder, who passed away in 2006. Donations may be made to St. Lorenz Church or to Frankenmuth City Beautification.

She is survived by her brother, two children and her son-in-law, as well as 10 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Her husband previously died.

"We mourn the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, and family matriarch," the family said in a statement. "We extend our thanks for the support from the Frankenmuth community and ask that you help us remember Dorothy for the amazing woman she was and who will remain in our hearts. Our family will continue to uphold the spirit of Dorothy and her legacy to this community."