Dorothy “Dottie” Helmrich, passed on October 20, 2020 at 91, in Manchester, Iowa.

Dottie was born to Edna and Henry Clemen of Dyersville. Iowa. In 1949 she married Merle, “Casey” Helmrich; they were married for 43 years until Casey’s passing in 1992.  With their 10 children they farmed many farms in Delaware County until they purchased a farm north of Robinson, Iowa, where two of their sons still live.

 

Dottie was a woman of faith, a great card player, good at Scrabble, skilled at jigsaw puzzles and a self-described crossword puzzle addict. She loved having company over and was incredibly proud to host an annual Christmas event for family and friends that often numbered in the 100s.

 

Dottie was an active member of St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ryan, Iowa, from 1962 until 1995, when she moved to Manchester and became a member at St. Mary’s Church. She taught CCD classes at St Patrick’s in Ryan & St. Paul’s School of Religion in Manchester.  Dottie taught at St Paul’s for 18 years. She “found a home” there. She worked on 20 CEWs (adult retreats) and 6 TECs (teenage retreats) and became a Franciscan Associate.

 

Dottie was preceded in death by her husband Casey, a grandson, Jarod, sister Mary and Mary’s husband, Herman Helmrichs, brother Bob Clemen and Bob’s wife, Helen, sister Thresa Pape and her brother Ken Clemen. Also preceding her in death were her brother-in-law Bob Helmrich and Bob’s wife Norma; her sister-in-law Doris and Doris’s husband Dale Petlon; sister-in-law Dorothy and Dorothy’s husband, Dean Manson; her sister-in-law Hazel Coleman; her sister Bett’s husband, Bob Fessler; her sister Darlene’s husband, Sal Kafer; ex-sister-in-law, Gloria Clemen. She lost her dear neighbor, Bill, a good friend to her after moving into town. She lost too many friends to count over the years. 

She is survived by her sister-in-law Joann Harris; sisters Bett Fessler, Darlene Kafer, and Jean and her husband Roger Palmer; Dick Clemen and his wife, Mary; her brother Chuck.

 

All of her 10 children survive Dottie. They are David (and Linda, ex-Mary) of Villa Park, IL, Daniel (and ex-Jean, ex-Kay) of Dallas, TX, Stephen (and Deb) of Columbus, OH, Randy (Louise, ex-Patty) of Robinson, IA, Julie (Lisa) Helmrich of Milwaukee, WI, Joni (Ronnie) Craig of Mount Vernon, IA, Thresa (Rod) Saunders of Cascade, IA, Tony (Joellyn) of Robinson, IA, Barb Helmrich of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Jeanne (Gary) Taylor of Glen Ellyn, IL.

Additionally, Dottie is survived by her 27 grandchildren: Dave’s four children-Jenny, Sarah, Marc and Joe; by Dan’s three children -Leigh, Cory, and Jason); by Stephen’s three children-Steve, Jessica, and Amanda; by Randy’s two children-Brenda and September; Joni’s two children-Rachel and Adam; Thresa’s two children- Andrew and Beth; Tony’s four children-Rick, Justin, Aaron, and Heather; Barb’s three children-Jenna, Casey, and Keegan; and Jeanne’s four children-Hannah, Holly, Emma, and Michael. Dottie’s is survived by 31 great-grandchildren.

Dottie lived a life of connection. To her family. To her friends. To her neighbors. To her colleagues. And in the end, to the staff and her fellow residents at the Good Neighbor Society.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, masks will be required at the funeral home and church.

SERVICES 

Private Mass and internment for JUST Dottie’s 10 children

PUBLIC VISITATION

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020 
1-3 p    IN PERSON (Masks required) 

Memorial service ~ priest will speak at 2:50 pm

Leonard-Muller Funeral Home and Crematory,1500 N. Franklin, Manchester, Iowa

4-6 p    VIRTUAL

Memorial service

Register link available from family members