Doris Marie Vaupel age 94 of Westbrook passed away on Thursday, March 08, 2012 at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. Monday at the Westbrook Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.  Interment is in the Westbrook Cemetery.  Stephens Funeral Service – Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Doris Marie (Niffenegger) Vaupel was born on a farm near Sibley, Iowa on February 23, 1918 to Jacob Andrew and Susan Miranda (Coryell) Niffenegger.  She attended rural schools in Osceola County, Iowa and graduated from Sibley High School in 1935.  She was active in 4H and Epworth League.  She attended Morningside College, where she earned a degree in elementary education.  She taught in Osceola County schools until her marriage to William Vaupel on March 8, 1940.  Doris and Bill lived on a farm west of Sibley for seven years.  In 1947, they purchased a farm near Westbrook, MN where she continued to live until 2004.  After Bill passed away in 1972, Doris graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in library science.  She was the media specialist at Westbrook public schools for 12 years until she retired.  Doris moved to Storden for one year, before moving to Peterson Estates where she lived for five years before entering Westbrook Good Samaritan Care Center.  Doris was very active in her church, teaching Sunday school and serving on the church council.  She was a member of DAR, and was active in supporting World Vision and Native American Missions in South Dakota for years.  Doris enjoyed reading and poetry, gardening, travelling, and watching the birds.  She also enjoyed the fine arts and loved music and collectibles.  She loved spending time with her family and especially enjoyed time with her grandchildren.

Doris is survived by her children: Nancy (Lowell) Tjentland of Windom, David (Donna) Vaupel of Windom, Brian (Connie) Vaupel of Westbrook, and Marilyn Kopperud of Westminster, CO; daughter-in-law Catherine Vaupel of Westbrook; and numerous grandchildren and their families, and many other relatives and friends.  Preceding her in death are her parents, husband Bill, son Harold Vaupel, brother Ellery Niffenegger, and sisters Lois Kuiper and Laura Schmidt.