Dorothy Kathryn Nemmers

Dorothy Kathryn Nemmers, age 103, passed away Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 at Park Place Estates Assisted Living in Le Mars, IA. 

Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, at All Saints Parish - St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars with Father Bruce Lawler officiating and Deacon Paul Gengler assisting.  Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen, IA.  Visitation with family present will be 1 hour before the funeral on Tuesday at the church.  Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.  Condolences may be sent online to www.fischfh.com.  The funeral will be livestreamed at www.allsaintslemars.org 

Dorothy Kathryn Nothem, the daughter of Theodore and Ann (Peiffer) Nothem was born June 22, 1917. She was raised in Remsen, Iowa and graduated from St. Mary’s High School, class of 1935.  After graduation, she studied and graduated from the Samuel School of Cosmetology in 1938. Dorothy opened and operated one of the leading beauty shops in LeMars called Dot’s Vanity Shop.

Dorothy was united in marriage to the love of her life, Orville Joseph Nemmers at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen on June 6, 1940.  Dorothy continued to work in her shop until her first son was born and Orville left to join the Navy on the USS Yorktown.

They lived in Le Mars until 1973, then moved to Remsen to help care for Dorothy‘s mother. Dorothy returned to Le Mars in 2004. Dorothy spent many years with Orville and their family at their summer home on Ottertail Lake in Minnesota. So many great memories there. She loved sewing as can be demonstrated in the numerous quilts she made for her children and grandchildren, and occasionally for friends who discovered her talents. She loved her family, and always found time to help a neighbor, sew costumes for the school’s operettas, or send food to those who were in need.  Her kind spirit and happy nature will be missed by many.

She was a member of the All Saints Parish - St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars where she was active in the Christian Mothers and a member of the Catholic Daughters for over 50 years.

She is survived by six sons: Thomas of Burnsville, MN, Dennis (Angie) of LeMars, Nick (Linda) of LeMars, David (JoeAnn) of Bristol, IL, Jim, of Lincoln, NE, John (Mona) of Savage, MN. Three daughters: Carolyn (Joseph) Olson of Oelwein, IA, Marian (Rick) Langel, of Panora, IA and Kathryn (Tony) Loutsch of Remsen. Dorothy had 30 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orville; daughter, Ann (Craig) Boetger; two daughters-in-laws Sheila and Vivian Nemmers; two grandchildren, Christopher Nemmers and Hayley Nemmers.

Casket bearers will be Scott Nemmers, Kevin Nemmers, Chad Willard, Todd Langel, Joseph Loutsch and Jacob Loutsch.

The family would like to thank the staff at Park Place Estates for the extraordinary care they provided for her while she was a resident there, and Care Initiatives Hospice.

In lieu of flowers Dorothy requests donations made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital.