Claire Forsthoefel Dana Amsler

Claire Forsthoefel Dana Amsler passed away May 16, 2010, at the Bentley Village Care Center in Naples, Fla. She was 80 years old.  Claire was born in Dayton, Ohio, on April 1, 1930, the daughter of Gregory and Ursula (Desch) Forsthoefel. As a child, she and her family moved from Ohio to Massachusetts before settling in Adrian, Mich.

After graduating from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Claire graduated from Siena Heights College in 1951 with a degree in philosophy.  Claire met and married David Michael  “Mike” Dana; he preceded her in death in 1968.  

Claire returned to Siena Heights and received a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1978. In 1979, Claire married Merrill F. Amsler of Adrian, Mich., and they soon moved to Naples, Fla.

The next 30 years were filled with many activities, including watercolor painting, travel, bridge, golf and volunteering at the vonLiebig Art Center. Her passion for all things art led her to participate in many local art shows where she exhibited and sold many of her paintings.

Widowed a second time in 1996, Claire eventually settled in Bentley Village four years ago.
Claire is survived by her three daughters, Martha Rolston of Onsted, Mich., Mary Ruth Dana of Raleigh, N.C., and Paula A. Dana of Ypsilanti, Mich. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Matthew Dana Rolston of Onsted and Hannah Claire, Gregory Lloyd and Michael David Hutchins of Raleigh.

Claire is also survived by her large and loving family that include sister, Rita McLaughlin of Jackson, Mich.; and her brothers, Mark (Joan) Forsthoefel  of Plymouth, Mich., Paul (Margaret) Forsthoefel  of Carmel, Ind., Dr. Frank (Tina) Forsthoefel of Columbia, S.C., and Raymond (Christine) Forsthoefel of Allentown, Pa.; and sister-in-law, Margie Forsthoefel of Tecumseh, Mich.

Claire was preceded in death by husbands, Mike and Merrill; as well as her parents; brother, Gregory Forsthoefel; and brother-in-law, William  Bill  McLaughlin.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, June 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Adrian, Mich., with Father Bob Schramm officiating.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Wagley Funeral Home of Adrian. Interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Naples Art Association, 585 Park St., Naples, FL 34102. Read this obituary and send condolences at legacy.com.