Le Mars, Iowa – Dorothy M. Tammes, 88, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Park Place Estates in Le Mars. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the United Methodist Church of Le Mars. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2016 at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present to greet friends from 4-7 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church on Saturday prior to the funeral service.

Dorothy Mae Mauer was born on May 30, 1928, in Le Mars, Iowa to Lloyd and Minnie (Kammerer) Mauer. She attended school in Le Mars, graduating as class valedictorian in 1946. She furthered her education at Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) and earned her teaching degree in 1948. She taught in Sheldon, Iowa, for four years where she met Earl Tammes.

On July 19, 1952, Dorothy and Earl were united in marriage in Le Mars. They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, so he could attend the Cincinnati College of Embalming. The family returned to Le Mars in 1954 and Earl began his lifelong career with the Mauer Funeral Home along with Dorothy’s father, Lloyd Mauer, and brother, Robert Mauer. In 1989, Earl retired and they spent summers on Lake Winnibigoshish in Minnesota.
She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church of Le Mars, where she was active in the United Methodist Women and volunteered as a Sunday School teacher and youth leader. Dorothy was a 50-year member of Chapter CD of P.E.O. sisterhood and held several offices. She was also a member of the Eight ‘Til Late Club, holding several offices. Dorothy was a volunteer and member of the Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary as well as the Abu Bekr Shrine Auxiliary. She served as a Brownie Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother, and volunteered with Meals on Wheels, the American Cancer Society and other community activities.
Dorothy will be lovingly remembered by her children: a daughter, Ann Hammond and her husband, Elliott of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota; two sons, Marc Tammes of Atlanta, Georgia and Eric Tammes of Chicago, Illinois; a sister, Carol Strope, of Boise, Idaho; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Dekkenga, of Sheldon, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; and dear neighbors and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Earl, on June 29, 2015; brother, Robert Mauer; and four sisters, Eloise Meadows, Jane Mauer, Helen Saienga and Ruth Schultz; and an infant sister, Mildred Mauer.
Expressions of sympathy may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland, the P.E.O. Foundation and the United Methodist Church of Le Mars. Dorothy’s children are deeply appreciative of the outstanding care provided by the staff at Park Place Estates, Hospice of Siouxland, and Floyd Valley Healthcare.

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