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1924
Dorothy
2015
Dorothy Wuennecke
January 3, 1924 — July 22, 2015
Dorothy E. Brown Wuennecke, 91, of Ankeny, IA, formerly of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 27th, at 11:00 AM at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Paul Burgess officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Dorothy Elizabeth Brown Wuennecke was born January 3, 1924, in rural New Albin, IA, the daughter of Henry and Caroline (Koenig) Beneke. She grew up in the Sleepy Hollow area of rural New Albin, was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Wheatland United Church of Christ, and attended the rural New Albin Wheatland School. Later in 1976, along with two of her sisters, Dorothy received her GED. On October 14, 1941, she married Donald S. Brown at St. John's Wheatland United Church of Christ. Dorothy and Donald lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin from 1942 until 1951, when they moved to the Waukon area. Dorothy worked as a lab assistant for Impro Products, Inc. in Waukon for 26 years. She was also a cook for the Waukon schools for five years, and she and Donald operated Brown's 66 Café in Waukon for five years. Donald died in 1981, and on April 16, 1983, Dorothy married Armin Wuennecke at St. John's Wheatland United Church of Christ in rural New Albin. She and Armin lived in Waukon until moving to Cedar Rapids, IA, in 2003. In 2013, Dorothy moved to Ankeny, IA.
Dorothy was a 50 year member of Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon where she was active in Women's Fellowship and Prayer Circle. While living in Cedar Rapids, she had been a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ. She enjoyed dancing, square dancing, and being a member of five card clubs. She also loved to travel and took numerous driving trips with Don and annual bus trips across most of the country with Armin. She was an excellent cook and baker and loved to host family events and get-togethers.
Dorothy is survived by her children: Donald (Norma) Brown of Ballwin, MO, Darryl (Rosalie) Brown of Marion, IA, Darlene (John) Van Pelt of Waterloo, IA, Dennis (Julie) Brown of Ames, IA, and Daniel (Wanda) Brown of Madrid, IA; 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and a sister Irma Ashbacher of Caledonia, MN.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Donald Brown in 1981; her second husband Armin Wuennecke in 2013; a son David; three sisters: Lydia Weber, Esther Hartley, and Alvina Fruechte; her brother Henry Beneke; and two infant brothers.
Honorary casketbearers are Dorothy's granddaughters: Lisa Sitler, Robin Hill, Lora Cole, Christine Bartner, Heidi Shelton, and Shannon Knudsen. Casketbearers are her grandsons: Martin Brown, David Brown, Jared Brown, Timothy Brown, John Van Pelt, Aaron Brown, Donald Brown, Bryan Van Pelt, Evan Brown, and Michael Van Pelt.
Dorothy Elizabeth Brown Wuennecke was born January 3, 1924, in rural New Albin, IA, the daughter of Henry and Caroline (Koenig) Beneke. She grew up in the Sleepy Hollow area of rural New Albin, was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Wheatland United Church of Christ, and attended the rural New Albin Wheatland School. Later in 1976, along with two of her sisters, Dorothy received her GED. On October 14, 1941, she married Donald S. Brown at St. John's Wheatland United Church of Christ. Dorothy and Donald lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin from 1942 until 1951, when they moved to the Waukon area. Dorothy worked as a lab assistant for Impro Products, Inc. in Waukon for 26 years. She was also a cook for the Waukon schools for five years, and she and Donald operated Brown's 66 Café in Waukon for five years. Donald died in 1981, and on April 16, 1983, Dorothy married Armin Wuennecke at St. John's Wheatland United Church of Christ in rural New Albin. She and Armin lived in Waukon until moving to Cedar Rapids, IA, in 2003. In 2013, Dorothy moved to Ankeny, IA.
Dorothy was a 50 year member of Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon where she was active in Women's Fellowship and Prayer Circle. While living in Cedar Rapids, she had been a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ. She enjoyed dancing, square dancing, and being a member of five card clubs. She also loved to travel and took numerous driving trips with Don and annual bus trips across most of the country with Armin. She was an excellent cook and baker and loved to host family events and get-togethers.
Dorothy is survived by her children: Donald (Norma) Brown of Ballwin, MO, Darryl (Rosalie) Brown of Marion, IA, Darlene (John) Van Pelt of Waterloo, IA, Dennis (Julie) Brown of Ames, IA, and Daniel (Wanda) Brown of Madrid, IA; 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and a sister Irma Ashbacher of Caledonia, MN.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Donald Brown in 1981; her second husband Armin Wuennecke in 2013; a son David; three sisters: Lydia Weber, Esther Hartley, and Alvina Fruechte; her brother Henry Beneke; and two infant brothers.
Honorary casketbearers are Dorothy's granddaughters: Lisa Sitler, Robin Hill, Lora Cole, Christine Bartner, Heidi Shelton, and Shannon Knudsen. Casketbearers are her grandsons: Martin Brown, David Brown, Jared Brown, Timothy Brown, John Van Pelt, Aaron Brown, Donald Brown, Bryan Van Pelt, Evan Brown, and Michael Van Pelt.
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