dorcas coleDorcas I. Martens Cole, 85, of Erie, IL, died Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at Good Samaritan–Prophets Riverview, Prophetstown, IL.

Dorcas Irene Prins was born August 4, 1928, the daughter of John and Helen (VanZuiden) Prins. She attended a one-room school house outside of Lyndon, IL, and Lyndon High School. Dorcas was married to Albert Martens on March 26, 1947. He preceded her in death in 1986. She later married Lyle Cole on November 18, 1988. He preceded her in death in 2005.

Dorcas worked for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company in Erie until the position became obsolete. She then went to work for General Electric in Morrison, IL, where she worked from 1968 to 1988. Upon retirement she and Lyle found a love for traveling. They visited all 50 states and several countries in Europe and South America. Dorcas also enjoyed cooking and crocheting. She was a member of the Hillsdale United Methodist Church and longtime member of TOPs and the GEM club.

She is survived by three children, Jerry (Carla) Martens, Erie, Helen (Ronald) Null, Morrison, Richard (Janice) Martens, Erie; brothers, Elmer Prins and Irvin (Barb) Prins, Morrison; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Bev Martens, and brothers, Kenneth and Arnold Prins.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 28, 2014, at the Hillsdale United Methodist Church, Hillsdale, IL.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the Church.

Burial will follow in the Erie Cemetery, Erie, IL.

Memorials may be made to the Hillsdale United Methodist Church.

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