Dorothy Frances Wenger

BIXEMAN, BOVY, BRINCKS, FETTKETHER, HERMSEN, LEE, LUCAS, MICHAEL, MICHAELS, SPERFSLAGE, SUHR, WENGER, WEHLING, WOODSON

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 2/2/2025 at 15:47:31

Dorothy Frances Wenger passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 85.

She was born on September 4,1939, west of Oelwein on her family farm. She was the second of four children born to Cletus and Margaret (Suhr) Fettkether and raised on the family farm in rural Maynard. While attending Maynard High School in 1956, Dorothy played six on six girls’ basketball, with Maynard beating Garrison 62-51 to claim the title of State Champs before a crowd of 13,517 people. Dorothy’s love for girls’ basketball never ended!

She would often challenge the grandkids to a game of basketball, she always had girls’ basketball on the radio, and as she laid in the hospital room, she was watching basketball on TV.

Dorothy married Johnny Wenger June 4, 1956, at Sacred Heart Church in Oelwein, Iowa. Together, they had three children. Dorothy was predeceased by her beloved husband Johnny on September 13, 1993, at the age of 57. Dorothy was always known as a hard worker and continued to farm after her husband passed away. She could be found on her farm doing chores, feeding cattle, fixing fence or baling hay, right up until her illness.

In addition to farming, Dorothy also worked at Pronto Market in Fairbank for many years, Dr. John A. Johnson, DDS in Oelwein for 20 years, and was still currently working for Life of Iowa in Oelwein until she was hospitalized in December. Dorothy loved to cook, and everyone looked forward to her homemade bread at family gatherings.

Before, her passing, she was putting together a cookbook of all her favorite homemade recipes to give as a gift to all her children and grandchildren. She was also known for her beautiful handmade quilts which she gave as wedding gifts. She also made sure each grandchild and great-grandchild received a special cedar chest for their graduation as a personized gift from their grandma.

Her passing was sudden and unexpected, but she took her last breath surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren in peace.

Dorothy is survived by her partner of 24 years, Richard “Dick” Lehman, her son, John (Joan) Wenger of Fairbank, her two daughters, Dorothy (Scott) Wehling of Oelwein and Doreen (Michael) Bixeman of Fairbank. her grandchildren, Jill (Jeremy) Michael, Dr. Jean (Ben) Hermsen, Janette (Matthew) Brincks, Jessica (Travis) Michaels, Julia (Andy) Sperfslage, Jonathan (Jennifer) Wenger, Jacob Wenger, Dorthea (Travis) Bovy, Scott (Sara) Wehling, Chris (Kelsie) Wehling, Alisha Lucas (Terry Shephard), Austin Lucas and Mikayla Bixeman. two sisters; Eileen Lee of Hawkeye and Anna Kay Woodson of Fairbank, and a sister-in-law Shirley Fettkether of Maynard. She is also survived by Dicks children, Randy (Jen) Lehman of Brandon, Rick (Karen) Lehman of Gilbert, AZ, and Doug (Denise) Lehman of Rowley as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dorothy is also survived by a couple neighbor girls, whom she held a special bond and thought of them as her “other daughters”, Donna Ott-Brown and Amy Ott-Scott.

She was preceded in death by her husband Johnny Wenger, her parents Cletus & Margaret Fettkether, her brother Cletus Fettkether, her father and mother-in-law Virgil & Edna Wenger, three brothers–in-law; Donnie Lee, Bob Woodson, Duane Wenger and a sister-in-law, Marion Wenger.

Visitation: 4:00-7:00 PM Monday February 3rd at Woods Funeral Home, Fairbank.

Mass of Christian Burial: Tuesday, 10:30 am February 4th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank.

Interment: Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Fairbank

Lunch will be served at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center following the service.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.