Obituary for Dorothy Ann Ruhland (Gollhofer)
Le Mars, Iowa – Dorothy A. Ruhland, 82, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at Unity Point Health in Sioux City, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 25, 2021, at All Saints Catholic Parish-St. Joseph Church in Le Mars, Iowa. Masks and social distancing will be required. Father Bruce Lawler will celebrate. Private family burial will be Tuesday at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 24, 2021, at St. Joseph Church. The family will be present from 4-8 p.m. with a Catholic Daughters Rosary at 5:00 p.m. and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at 12:00 p.m. on Monday at the church.
Dorothy Ann Ruhland was born on November 24, 1938, in Kingsley, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Blanche (Timmins) Gollhofer. She attended school in Kingsley, graduating from high school in 1957. Following graduation, Dorothy attended nursing school in Sioux City, Iowa, and later worked in Sioux City as a telephone operator. On August 24, 1960, Dorothy and Dale Kessenich were married at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kingsley. They made their home on a farm near Neptune, Iowa. Dorothy and Dale farmed together until they moved to Le Mars in 1979. Dorothy then took a position in the kitchen at Gehlen Catholic Schools. She later worked for a brief time at Brentwood Good Samaritan Home as a nurses’ aid. She finished her career at Floyd Valley Hospital as supervisor of the housekeeping staff. Dale passed away on June 29, 1999.
On November 11, 2000, Dorothy and Larry Ruhland were married at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. They made their home in Le Mars. Dorothy then became “head cook” at Guardian Angel Preschool and Daycare. All of the children knew her as “Grandma Dorothy.” She was a member of All Saints Parish, a member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas and recited the rosary daily. Throughout her life she was an accomplished seamstress and quilter, donating many of her creations. She enjoyed fishing, cooking and baking. She closely followed the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and held an annual grandma and grandpa day. Faith was very important to Dorothy and she spent many hours in perpetual adoration at her church. Along with playing cards and Dominoes, Dorothy would take an occasional trip to the casino. She also enjoyed an occasional “flu shot”.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Larry Ruhland of Le Mars, IA; a son, Michael Kessenich of Le Mars, IA; and his special friend, Peggy Hoogendoorn-Zimmer of Sioux Falls, SD; a daughter and her husband, Connie and Tim Tietz of Omaha, NE and their children and grandchildren, Scott and Nichole Zittritsch, Thayer, Cohen, Theodore and Gus; Eric and Sara Tietz, Michael and Alexander; Kaleb Tietz, Josh Tietz and Jessica Tietz; Larry’s children and grandchildren, Laurie and Joe Tomasek of Omaha, NE, Joey and Sam Tomasek, Bret Tomask and fiancé, Brandy Hoffert, Kaitlyn and Justin Collins; Kelli and Mike Langel of Le Mars, IA, Jill and Drew West, Tim and Julie Langel, Melissa and Jeremy Galles and Robb and Kelsey Langel; Lisa and Randy Freking of Le Mars, IA, Jake and Ali Freking, Justin and Allie Freking, Stacie and Keith MacRae, Sadie Freking and her fiancé, Dustan Kneip; Curt Ruhland of Greeley, CO, BreAnne and James Langel, Austin and Jenny Ruhland, Kirstie Ruhland and friend Eleanor Poe; Jenni and Shawn Vacura of Le Mars, IA, Bergen Vacura, Zoe Vacura and Libby Vacura; 27 great-grandchildren with one on the way; brothers, Jerome and Judy Gollhofer of Kingsley, IA and Larry and Ruth Gollhofer of Park Rapids, MN; sisters-in-law, Joyce Gollhofer of Golden CO, Sheryl Gollhofer of Colorado, and Cindy Gollhofer of Kingsley, IA; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dale; and brothers, Duane, Jim and Randy.
Memorials may be directed to Gehlen Catholic Schools in Le Mars, Iowa.
Dorothy Ann Ruhland was born on November 24, 1938, in Kingsley, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Blanche (Timmins) Gollhofer. She attended school in Kingsley, graduating from high school in 1957. Following graduation, Dorothy attended nursing school in Sioux City, Iowa, and later worked in Sioux City as a telephone operator. On August 24, 1960, Dorothy and Dale Kessenich were married at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kingsley. They made their home on a farm near Neptune, Iowa. Dorothy and Dale farmed together until they moved to Le Mars in 1979. Dorothy then took a position in the kitchen at Gehlen Catholic Schools. She later worked for a brief time at Brentwood Good Samaritan Home as a nurses’ aid. She finished her career at Floyd Valley Hospital as supervisor of the housekeeping staff. Dale passed away on June 29, 1999.
On November 11, 2000, Dorothy and Larry Ruhland were married at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. They made their home in Le Mars. Dorothy then became “head cook” at Guardian Angel Preschool and Daycare. All of the children knew her as “Grandma Dorothy.” She was a member of All Saints Parish, a member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas and recited the rosary daily. Throughout her life she was an accomplished seamstress and quilter, donating many of her creations. She enjoyed fishing, cooking and baking. She closely followed the activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and held an annual grandma and grandpa day. Faith was very important to Dorothy and she spent many hours in perpetual adoration at her church. Along with playing cards and Dominoes, Dorothy would take an occasional trip to the casino. She also enjoyed an occasional “flu shot”.
She will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Larry Ruhland of Le Mars, IA; a son, Michael Kessenich of Le Mars, IA; and his special friend, Peggy Hoogendoorn-Zimmer of Sioux Falls, SD; a daughter and her husband, Connie and Tim Tietz of Omaha, NE and their children and grandchildren, Scott and Nichole Zittritsch, Thayer, Cohen, Theodore and Gus; Eric and Sara Tietz, Michael and Alexander; Kaleb Tietz, Josh Tietz and Jessica Tietz; Larry’s children and grandchildren, Laurie and Joe Tomasek of Omaha, NE, Joey and Sam Tomasek, Bret Tomask and fiancé, Brandy Hoffert, Kaitlyn and Justin Collins; Kelli and Mike Langel of Le Mars, IA, Jill and Drew West, Tim and Julie Langel, Melissa and Jeremy Galles and Robb and Kelsey Langel; Lisa and Randy Freking of Le Mars, IA, Jake and Ali Freking, Justin and Allie Freking, Stacie and Keith MacRae, Sadie Freking and her fiancé, Dustan Kneip; Curt Ruhland of Greeley, CO, BreAnne and James Langel, Austin and Jenny Ruhland, Kirstie Ruhland and friend Eleanor Poe; Jenni and Shawn Vacura of Le Mars, IA, Bergen Vacura, Zoe Vacura and Libby Vacura; 27 great-grandchildren with one on the way; brothers, Jerome and Judy Gollhofer of Kingsley, IA and Larry and Ruth Gollhofer of Park Rapids, MN; sisters-in-law, Joyce Gollhofer of Golden CO, Sheryl Gollhofer of Colorado, and Cindy Gollhofer of Kingsley, IA; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dale; and brothers, Duane, Jim and Randy.
Memorials may be directed to Gehlen Catholic Schools in Le Mars, Iowa.