Grace Dagmer (Hillstrom) Dawson

Dawson, Grace Dagmer (Hillstrom) – age 88, of Grand Blanc, formerly of Granger, Indiana, passed away April 10, 2026. A Committal Gathering will be held for the immediate family on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, Holly, Michigan 48442.

Grace was born August 23,1937 in Spooner, Wisconsin the daughter of Hugo and Lempi (Anderson) Hillstrom. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1960 and Master of Arts in 1964, both at Wayne State University. She married William E. Dawson on September 4, 1960; he preceded her in death in 2017. While raising their three children in Massachusetts and Indiana, Grace was a steady and devoted presence, known for her strong work ethic, frugal wisdom, and creative homemaking. Grace earned her PhD at the University of Notre Dame in 1980 and served there as the editor of the Gerontology and Geriatrics Education Journal at the Gerontology Center for 18 years.

She is survived by her three children, Marilyn Joyce (Peter) Branoff, Sandra Elizabeth (Kevan) Miller, William Raymond (Lisa) Dawson; four grandchildren, Hanna and Claire Miller, Bradley and Thomas Dawson; sister, Ellen L. Chmaj; many nieces and nephews; extended family, Jace (Irene), their son Flynn, and Gage. Grace was preceded in death by her parents; seven of her eight siblings; and her husband.

Arrangements have been handled by Sharp Funeral Homes, 6063 Fenton Road, Grand Blanc, Michigan 48507. Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 or online at www.alz.org.