Dorothy J. Dunn, 87, of Merrill, Iowa, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2018 at Sunrise Health Center in Sioux City, Iowa following a courageous battle with cancer. A Memorial Service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Rev. Dr. Jean Ziettlow and Rev. Chris Meier will officiate. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the Memorial Service.

Dorothy Jean Dunn was born on July 7, 1930 near Chester, South Dakota, the daughter of Harry F. and Elsie M. (Dannenbring) Stief. Her family moved to a farm near Le Mars, Iowa where she graduated from Le Mars High School in 1948. Dorothy continued her education at Wartburg College where she earned a degree in education.

Dorothy’s first teaching job was at West Bend, Iowa where she met her husband Dean. They were united in marriage on March 23, 1952 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. She continued her teaching career in Rolfe, Iowa until 1961. They moved to a farm near Merrill where Dorothy stayed home to raise their family. She later worked as a substitute teacher and teacher’s aide for Le Mars Community Schools.

First and foremost in her life was her love for the Lord. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Dorothy was very active in the church and participated in the Dorcas Circle.

She will be greatly missed by her husband of 66 years, Dean of Merrill; a daughter and her husband, Jayne and John Willer of Merrill; a son and his wife, Jay and Vickie Dunn of Merrill; grandchildren, Megan, Brianna and Kyle; a brother-in-law and his wife, Wayne and Rosemary Dunn; a sister-in-law Lois Hatton; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Joy Margaret Dunn; a brother and his wife, Rev. Harry F. and LaVonne Stief; her mother and father-in-law, Joe and Viola Dunn; a brother-in-law, Tom Hatton; and a niece, Rebekah Fulton.