Our gracious and loving God called to Himself the soul of Dorothy M. (Tesch) Wormer of Jordan, MN on January 30, 2018 at the age of 88. The service celebrating Dorothy’s life will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jordan on Saturday, February 3rd at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be at the church prior to the service starting at 9:30 AM. Pastor Jeremy Glowicki will officiate. Following the service, Dorothy will be laid to rest next to her husband, Waldemar, at Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan. Pallbearers for Dorothy will be her grandchildren.
John and Dena Tesch (nee Bruesehoff) celebrated the birth of their daughter, Dorothy Martha Mary Tesch on April 9, 1929 on the family farm in Blakeley Township. Dorothy was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine on April 23, 1929 and reaffirmed her baptismal vow by the Rite of Confirmation on April 18, 1943. She attended rural Scott County School #89 through eighth grade and then graduated from Belle Blaine High School in 1946. Following graduation, she found a clerical position for a law firm in Minneapolis. Through mutual friends, Dorothy met Waldemar Wormer at a dance and three years later, they were united in marriage on October 7, 1950. They settled on a dairy farm near Lydia, Minnesota and were blessed with seven children. Along with her busy farm life, Dorothy enjoyed working part-time as an assistant for the Scott County Library System. In 1995, Dorothy and Wally retired from the farm and moved to their new home in Jordan. In July 2013, Dorothy moved to Oak Terrace Assisted Living in Jordan and was well cared for by the staff and St. Croix Hospice.
Dorothy was first and foremost a dedicated homemaker for her husband and children. She kept busy tending huge gardens, raising chickens, canning, cooking, and sewing. Her neighbor John would tell you, “No one ever left Dorothy’s kitchen hungry.” She and Wally enjoyed playing cards, going to “town,” and visiting with friends, relatives, and neighbors. They traveled on a few DHIA trips but their dream trip to Germany was realized in 1979 where they visited with relatives.
Dorothy regularly heard God’s Word throughout her life; first, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine, then at Fish Lake Immanuel Lutheran Church near Lydia and later at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Jordan. Dorothy loved old-time music, especially Lawrence Welk and standard hymns. She was a past member of church choirs. Dorothy served as a member of St. Paul’s Ladies’ Aid as her health would allow. She was also a pioneer member of the Scott County ARC organization and Scott Lites. In those years, ARC families worked to advance educational and social opportunities for children with intellectual challenges. Later in her life, Dorothy took pleasure playing bingo, watching TV, and catching up on the latest news with friends. She always looked forward to family gatherings and seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After many years of battling health issues, Dorothy passed away peacefully at Oak Terrace in Jordan. She was a woman of faith who treasured prayer throughout her life. She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, and friend.
Those left to cherish her memory include her children: Char (Tom) Voigt of Jordan; Debbie Wormer of Redwood Falls, MN; Doug Wormer of Turtle Lake, WI; Connie (David) Dillon of Prior Lake, MN; David (Barney) Wormer of Prior Lake, MN; Wayne Wormer of Mankato, MN; and Dan (Linda) Wormer of New Prague, MN; her 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; her sister-in-laws; Bernadene Gnan of Chaska, MN; Sharon Wormer of Jordan; Geraldine Tesch of Belle Plaine, MN; and Donna Tesch of Edina, MN; along with other loving relatives and friends.
We rejoice that Dorothy has joined her Savior in heaven and awaits the Resurrection. There, she was greeted by her husband, Waldemar Wormer, who passed away on July 31, 2010; her parents, John and Dena Tesch; and her brothers, Lawrence and Lester Tesch; and her brothers-in law, Harvard Gnan and Willard Wormer.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
