WURSTER, Dorothy Ann (FOX)

FOX, WURSTER, RUSSI, LIGHT, SCHUTTE, MENDRALLA, MACKAMAN, LAUTENBACH, SCHUELKE, STEPHENS, PARRISH, MAYNES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/16/2018 at 12:33:20

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, January 31, 2018

OBITUARY ~ DOROTHY ANN (FOX) WURSTER
April 23, 1931 ~ January 24, 2018

Dorothy A. Wurster, formerly of Tingley, passed away January 24, 2018 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, Iowa.

She was born Dorothy Ann Fox on April 23, 1931 in Mahaska County to Leslie and Ella Mae Rose Fox. She attended Center School, a one-room school, in Monroe Township, Mahaska County. She graduated from Lacey High School in 1948 and enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls where she received a Limited Elementary Certificate. Her first teaching experience was in the same Center School she had attended.

June 2, 1950 Dorothy was united in marriage to Howard Eugene Wurster of Clearfield, Iowa. Three children were born to this union, Katheryn Joan, Rosann Marie, and Gary Allen. Dorothy and Howard lived on a farm outside of Tingley, Iowa from 1954 until 1996 when they relocated to northeast Iowa.

Dorothy entered Graceland College, Lamoni, Iowa as an adult and graduated in 1970. In 1988 she earned a Masters Degree from Drake University, Des Moines. She taught 30 years, mostly in the East Union School District, Afton, Iowa.

Dorothy was active in the United Methodist Church, Tingley, Iowa where she served as UMW president, chairman of the official board, and taught the high school Sunday School class and later the young adult class for a total of 42 years. Dorothy was a 4-H leader and was active in Ringgold County politics. She led a support group during the farm crisis in the 1980s. One of the highlights of her life was testifying before the U. S. Senate Agriculture Committee of the 100th Congress in 1987. She spoke on the problems affecting children and farm families, receiving a standing ovation for her testimony.

Dorothy stressed to her children the importance of education, a strong work ethic, and striving for excellence. Dorothy and Howard were happiest when involved with activities of their children and, later, activities of their grandchildren.

Dorothy was proceeded in death by her mother and father, her only brother Robert Fox and his wife Nancy, her in-laws Herman and Shella Wurster, and her brother-in-law Willis Wurster.

Dorothy leaves to mourn her husband of 67 ½ years Howard; children: Katheryn Russi, Decorah, IA, and step children Chris (Abby) Russi and their sons Isaac and Adrian, Rochester, MN and Jen (Randy) Light and children Cale, Chance, and Piper, Concord, NC; Rose Schutte (Michael), Castalia, IA, and children Leisl Schutte, Castalia, IA and Greg Schutte, Sioux City, IA ; and Gary Wurster (Robin), Fayette, IA, and children Holly Mendralla and her daughter Allison, Elgin, IL, and Stefan (Jolene) Wurster and children Emma, Gavin, and Sumerlin, Onslow, IA. Also nieces, Cynthia Fox, Laura Mackaman, and Patricia Lautenbach and their families; sister-in-law Lois Wurster (Willis) and her daughters Gloria Shuelke, Brenda Stephens, Connie Parrish, and Marcia Maynes and their families; a host of good friends.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2018