Helen M. Dotzler

Helen M. Dotzler, age 82, of Decorah, IA, died Thursday evening, December 30, 2010 at Wellington Place in Decorah, surrounded by her family. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, Iowa with Rev. Joelle Colville-Hanson officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah in the spring of 2011. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 P.M. Monday, January 3 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Tuesday one hour before the service at the church. Helen Marie (Hovey) Dotzler was born on May 14, 1928 at home in York Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota, the daughter of Clarence and Gladys (Walker) Hovey. She was baptized and confirmed at Saetersdal Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Helen went to country school through the eighth grade. She was united in marriage with Edward H. Dotzler on November 6, 1946 at First Lutheran Church parsonage in Cresco, Iowa. This union was blessed with 18 children: Edward, Donna, Marilyn, Charlotte, Jerry, Wayne, Donald, Margaret, Rodney, Roger, Larry, Gary, Dennis, Barb, Sharon, Karen, Michelle and Michael. Helen was a homemaker and she devoted her life to raising her 18 children. She really enjoyed spending time with all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her interests were cooking, baking, sewing and gardening. She was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway. She and Eddie made their home in Ridgeway until moving to Wellington Place, Decorah, in January of 2003. She was preceded in death by her husband Eddie on August 15, 2006, her parents, one son Donald on October 6, 1992; and one brother Orval in infancy. Helen is survived by 17 children: Edward A. (Sandra) Dotzler of Belvidere, IL, Donna (Rod) Vick of Cedar Rapids, IA, Marilyn (Curt) Peterson of Decorah, IA, Charlotte (Ken) Buckingham of Waynesville, MO, Jerry (Jean) Dotzler of Mason City, IA, Wayne Dotzler of Hazelton, IA, Margaret Halse (Nick Schissel) of Ossian, IA, Rodney (Jane) Dotzler of Ridgeway, IA, Roger Dotzler of Roscoe, IL, Larry (Lola) Dotzler, Gary (Dianne) Dotzler of Roscoe, IL, Dennis Dotzler of Decorah, IA, Barb (Bob) Bigler of Ridgeway, IA, Sharon (Kevin) Weselmann of Decorah, IA, Karen Dotzler of Cresco, IA, Michelle (Lee) Panoch of Cresco, IA, Mike (Naycia) Dotzler of Cresco, IA; many grandchildren and great children; four sisters: Darleen Bakken, Sadie (Vince) Thraenert and Charlotte (Kenneth) Hebrink of Cresco, IA, Janice (Jerry) Peter of Dubuque, IA; three brothers: Donald Hovey and Harold (Vera) Hovey of Cresco, IA and Harry (Michelle) Hovey of Grand Meadow, MN; and by many nieces and nephews.