Denise E. Mollenkopf

Denise Mollenkopf, 70, passed away unexpectedly Thursday March 2, 2023 at the Toledo Hospital Emergency Room. She was born October 21, 1952 to Delbert and Nancy Eidenier in Pioneer, OH and graduated from Delta High School and the University of Toledo.

She was a lover of books from the time she learned to read her last day and books are where she spent most her working life. She was a 22-year employee at Thackeray’s Books at Westgate, going to Borders Books when Thackeray’s closed. From there she worked at the Toledo-Lucas County public Library for 14 years, retiring in 2020. She loved retirement as this gave her time to read more books, whether on a sunny front porch in summer or by the back window in the cold months where she could see the bird feeders she always kept full. When not reading, she could sail through a crossword puzzle in the blink of an eye.

Denise married Jim Mollenkopf on September 12, 1981 and together they went on far-flung tent camping trips for many years, ranging from Montana to Maine to Prince Edward Island and places in between. She became a dedicated birdwatcher and she and Jim became “boardwalk rats” at the famed Magee Marsh Boardwalk for over 30 years, witnessing the spectacular spring songbird migration every May.

She is survived by her husband Jim; brothers Jim (Christine) Eidenier, Aaron (Sue) Eidenier and Don (Kathleen) Woodhouse; special niece Sara Fleury; brother-in-law Terry Howell; her extended family and her book group and library friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Marsha Howell. She will be greatly missed.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 12 p.m. in the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd.). Burial will follow at Wolfinger Cemetery in Secor Metro Park.

Donations in her name are suggested to Maumee Valley Save-A-Pet or the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.