Obituary of Erika Zenta Dolata

Erika Zenta Dolata (nee Gutbrod), 85, passed away November 27, 2022.  She was born on July 5, 1937 in Nuremberg, Germany to the late Friedrich and Pauline (Schwarz) Gutbrod.

Erika’s legacy was her love for her large family.  She enjoyed cooking large holiday meals where everyone was welcome.  She also enjoyed reading and doing word search puzzles.  She loved to crochet, making many blankets, doilies and quilts for everyone she knew.  She also made lap blankets for veterans for Honor Flights.  When Fort Sheridan was still an active military base, she worked at the Officer’s Club and volunteered her time at the Army Community Service center.  She supported the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  She was a member of the Women of the Moose, American Legion and a lifetime member of VFW Post 7448.  Most of all, she loved to spend time with family and spoil her grandchildren whenever she could.

She is survived by four sons, William (Mary) Wojnarowski, Ron (Mona Armstrong) Wojnarowski, Stan Wojnarowski and Robert Wojnarowski, three daughters, Mary Ann (Fred) Farenzena, Carolyn (Tom) Roark and Sonja Dolata; daughter-in-law Shari Wojnarowski; 23 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren; her brothers and sisters, Elfriede Gregel, Luise Curtis, Irmgard Dressler, Karl-Heinz (Maria) Gutbrod and Manfred (Gabi) Gutbrod; and a host of nephews, nieces and other relatives.

Erika was preceded in death by her husband, Roman, and four sons, Stanley (infant) Wojnarowski, Thomas Wojnarowski, Michael (Dorothy) Wojnarowski and Karl-Heinz Dolata.

A visitaion will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022 from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. at the Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Road, Zion, IL.  A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.  Interment will follow at Ft. Sheridan National Cemetery.