Dorothy Pearl Joosten age 94 passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at the Northfield Retirement Center. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2017 at the Tracy Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the church. Burial will be held in the Tracy City Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Tracy Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dorothy Pearl (Ziemke) Joosten was born June 30, 1923 in Holly Township in rural Murray County, Minnesota to Ernest Richard and Winnie Marilla (Olson) Ziemke. She was baptized November 11, 1923 and confirmed on September 27, 1936. Dorothy attended country schools and graduated from Tracy High School in 1941. She attended Mankato Teacher’s College and taught two years in country schools. Dorothy lived on farms near Worthington and Brewster. She returned to college and attended Mankato State College and began teaching first at Reading, Minnesota and then at Worthington. Dorothy graduated from Southwest State in 1973 with a degree in elementary education. From 1970 to 2008, she lived on a farm near Balaton and taught at Balaton in the elementary school until her retirement at age 64. Dorothy was selected as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America for 1972. She was an active member of Tracy Lutheran, participating in church Circle, a member of the Shetek Retreat Board, and taught Sunday School. She was also a member of Balaton Women of Today and RSVP. Dorothy was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, crafts, raising houseplants, sewing, knitting, crocheting, raising poultry and reading. Dorothy will be remembered for her kindness, her green thumb, and her love of teaching.
She is survived by her children: Nancy Joosten, Mark (Debbie) Joosten and John R. (Lani) Joosten; grandchildren: Thomas Ager, Sarah (Eric) Swanson, Jeff (Cecily) Joosten, Jill (Kevin) Baer, David (Jackie) Joosten, Michael (Jessica) Joosten, and John (Gina) Joosten; 11 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters: Donna Greene, Elaine Andrews, and June Farr; and brothers-in-law: Lee Andrews, Floyd Farr and George Greene.
Rest in strength Aunt Dorothy.
I will be unable to attend the funeral due to work obligations.
I remember Grandma mostly for the days that I would come over and she would make a Cornish game hen and mashed potatoes. I loved her dinners and the conversation that accompanied them.
My condolences to the rest of the family and my apologies for being unable to attend the funeral.
-Mike Joosten
Rest in Peace Aunt Dorothy. Loved your visits to wyoming and getting to know you over the years. Say hi to Mom for me
Dorothy, it gives me solace to know that you are now resting in peace. Beginning September 12, 1944 our wedding day, until our decision 45 years later to travel down separate paths our unity was filled with many blessing and many struggles. Our marriage was blessed with John Richard, Nancy Elaine, and Mark Steven, raising them and watching them succeed with their own lives was our greatest accomplishment together. We have been gifted from God with many grandchildren, great grandchildren a beautiful extended family, and long time friends. I have always wished for you, happiness, peace and a sense of accomplishment. Our children have taken such wonderful care of us we are truly the lucky ones.
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
John
Dear family, happy memories of Mrs. Joosten continue to be with you. But when sadness comes, I hope that these promises from the Scriptures will give you true solace. Jehovah God is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. And he will wipe away the tears from all faces. Psalms 34:18; Isaiah 25:8 NWT. In the future people all over the earth (Matthew 5:5) will not suffer illness ever again. No resident will say: ” I am sick.” Isaiah 33:24; Psalms 37:11, 29 NWT. Peace be with you, dear family.
Dorothy’s kindness and caring will be missed by her family and everyone else who knew her. We know we’ll see her again, though we grieve now.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
Rest in peace, Dorothy.