MESSAGE FROM RON 1/27/10:

Dear Friends,   
 
I want to thank everyone for their support during this very sad time for me. All the get well cards were cherished by Dottie and me. The sympathy cards, flowers, and memorials are cherished by me and my family - Libby, Jeff, and four special grand kids Adam, Chris, Ben, and Emily, also Dottie's Mom (Granny). The visitation was overwhelming in excess of 200 people. I can not put into words how I feel. She was (and is) my soul mate for 53+ years. I love her more than anything else in the world. I really miss her and have a huge void in my life. I know she is in heaven and I hope I get there, to meet up with her again someday down the road.
 
Ron 

Dottie Troeger of North Bend, OH passed away on Wednesday morning, January 20th, 2010 at the age of 72 years old after a hard fought six month battle with cancer.  Dottie is one of the most senior and well known skiers in the State of Ohio and is sure to have touched the heart of anyone who came in contact with her.

Dottie skied in her first National Championship in 1969 at Myers Lake in Canton, OH.  In 1972 she bought her first pair of "store bought" trick skis, prior to that she competed on homemade skied built by her husband Ron.  Throughout the 70's Dottie and Ron skied at Happy Lake in Fairfield, OH which was eventually moved to Morrow, OH.  Around 2000, the Troeger's started skiing in Walton, KY at Cruises Creek where they skied every afternoon through last summer.  From 1998 to 2008 Dottie took Top 3 in tricks at Nationals and Top 5 in slalom every year with National Trick Titles in 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2007.  Dottie currently holds the midwest all tournament records for W7 & W8 Tricks with 2,170 & 1,860 points respectively.  She also holds the W8 midwest championship record in trick and the W7 and W8 midwest record capable tournament records in trick.  With so many top regional and national performances, it's no surprise that Dottie also holds the W6, W7, & W8 State Records in both trick & slalom.  On top of so many skiing accomplishments, Dottie also found time to be a senior rated 3-event judge and was also a scorer.

It's hard to describe in words how much Dottie will be missed at the lake every weekend but there are a number of skiers whose lives Dottie has touched:

"Such a fun & loving woman. I'll always cherish the things I learned from her. RIP"  -- Calli Newman, Cincinnati, OH

"I am one of very few that goes back into the mid 1960's as a young boy remembering Dottie. Her and Ron and later Miss Libby , always would attend the Athens Boat and Ski Club tournaments on the Ohio river. She was a goddess on the water. The countless years of service she has dedicated to water skiing in Ohio, makes her the godmother of water skiing in Ohio.  She will never be forgotton and I will truly miss her."  -- Mike Meek, Albany, OH

"I will always hear her yelling from the boat....PULL!"  -- Debbie Kern, Fairfield, OH

"I feel like I didn't even know her that long but she was one of the coolest people I've ever met. I will miss her."  -- Brad Ruff, Cincinnati, OH

"Tournaments will always be missing a little something without Dottie there.  I still remember the first time I met Dottie.  It was my first AWSA tournament ever and was held at Hidden Lake in 1999.  Not only was she the first skier to come up and ask me how I did after I skied but she was by far the most energetic person at the lake and was always excited when the kids skied."  -- Greg Kuenning, Cincinnati, OH

"Water skiing has lost another great friend and ambassador."  -- Tim McKune, Lexington, KY

"She was a great lady."  -- Karl Dammeyer, St Marys, OH

"She was an amazing woman, I learned so much from her."  -- Casey Tress, Cincinnati, OH

"Dottie was a blessing to all. She was a great encourager and friend of our family. She will be greatly missed, but I look forward to the day when we are reunited with our Lord for eternity."  -- Gary Funke, Cincinnati, OH 

"As a newcomer to competition waterskiing about 25 years ago, I met Dottie and Ron at a tournament and immediately felt a bond with both of them; Ron because he was a retired firefighter (my husband Sam is a firefighter) and Dottie, not only because of her wonderful attitude and sense of fun, but because she epitomized all that I aspired to be in waterskiing.  That bond continued for all those years and Dottie became my inspiration as I worked to get better at waterskiing.  My first nationals in Bakersfield, I had not ridden a jump out and was riding down the lake, extremely nervous, getting ready for jump # 3 and there stands Dottie on the bank, cheering for me and hollering for me to ride this one out, which I did.  I have never forgotten that and I will never forget a truly inspirational and just plain awesome lady.  May she rest in peace and may Ron find comfort knowing what an inspiration she was to many."  -- Cheryl Schmidtt, Timberlake, Mt Vernon, IN

"Our heart goes out to Dottie's family and we want you to know that we are praying for you. Dottie was always fun to be around at waterski tournaments  and I always got the priviledge of skiing after her (usually) A very hard act to follow.  She loved to see people do well and was always encouraging. Thank you Dottie for the way you touched our life.  Love the Bergers"  -- Jim & Cathy Berger, Marysville, OH

"It has been a very short 34 years since I first met Dottie & Ron.  We began a friendship that continued to grow.  So many great memories but two stand out!  The first was about two years ago, (just after the Nationals) we were still practicing (as if we were paid to ski).  We decided to hold the Un-Official Wakeboard / Wakeskate Nationals here at her club - Cruises Creek.  Not only did Dottie participate but she won her division for Wakeboard.  There are pictures to prove Dottie did Wakeboard with as much grace and skill as her Trick skiing ability.  The only difference was that she screamed a lot as she tried to figure out how the darn thing worked!  The second was most special.  We were able to visit Dottie in the Hospital as she was undergoing her most recent treatments.  She was tired but looked great!.  We had hoped for a quick 5-10 minutes but 45 minutes later that was not the case!  She asked about the upcoming tournaments, how the club members were doing and new tricks that I need to learn.  She was as sharp and thoughtful as ever.  Her energy and enthusiasm was unbelievable.  In fact, she carried the conversation the entire time we were there.  That’s Dottie!"  -- Bob & Donna Archambeau, Walton, KY 

"There has been no one any more involved with water skiing for the past 50 years then Dottie,as skier,as a judge and a coach to kids. She loved what she did and you could always tell that by her tremendous enthusiasm at ski sites.No other in this state will come close to Dottie for her passion she always showed. I will greatly miss my personnel friend of 40 yrs. She was a great influance and coach to my daughter Sam.  HAPPY DAYS TO YOU UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN."  -- Gil, Kathy, & Sam Ruehl, Cincinnati, OH

"Dottie will surely be missed.  She is a GREAT inspiration to everyone she met.  I will miss the days when Dottie pulled me skiing or coached me from the boat.   Dottie we love you and you will be missed."  -- Brian & Kim Miller, Walton, KY

Dottie will be missed by all who knew her. She was the inspiration for us all. I knew Dottie since the first ATOMIC OPEN WATERSKI TOURNAMENT in 1961. She was great then as now, with her laugh and always asking how can I help. As a former announcer, judge, and tourament director, I understood the values she shared as well as Ron.  May Ron and Libby, along with her family, find peace in the knowledge that Dottie was shared by many and loved by all.  -- Dean and Susie Hecker

If you would like to add your thoughts or stories, please email them to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

VISITATION

SERVICE

Our hearts and prayers go out to Dottie's husband Ron, her only daughter Libby Van Treese, along with Dottie's son-in-law Jeff and Dottie's four grandchildren Adam, Chris, Ben, & Emily.  Dottie is also survived by her 93 year old mother and a brother.  Rest In Peace Dottie.

 Dottie Troeger Mass Program 229.62 Kb

From Libby...

Dear Friends,

I know that most if not all of you have heard that Mom is at peace and has gone to her final home in heaven.  Thank you all for all of the love, support, prayers, and care that you are showing our family.  Mom & Dad have created quite a legacy and have touched so many lives.  I am including the obituary in my email because it has arrangement information in it and is an easier way for me to get that out to all of you.  I know that my kids have done an awesome job of contacting as many of you as they can.  We love you all.

Libby

Troeger, Dorothy E. "Dottie" (nee Wood). Beloved wife of Ronald C. Troeger. Devoted mother of Dorothy E. "Libby" Van Treese (Jeff). Loving grandmother of Adam, Chris, Ben & Emily Van Treese. Devoted daughter of Florence C. (nee Carter) & the late G. Douglas Wood. Dear sister of G. Eugene (Judy) & the late Charles (the late Judy) Wood. Loving aunt of Glen & Jason Wood, Pam Benter & Jan Hills. Dear niece of Harry Carter Jr. (Ellen). Jan. 20, 2010. Age 72. Visitation Sun., Jan. 24, 4-8 PM at the Dennis George Funeral Home, 44 S. Miami, Cleves. Funeral Mon., Jan. 25, 10 AM at the North Bend United Methodist Church, 121 Symmes, North Bend, OH. Memorials, if so desired, to the Dottie Troeger Memorial, c/o American Water Ski Educational Foundation, 1251 Holy Cow Rd., Polk City, FL 33686.