Dorothy Mae Stenzel, age 73, of Wells, MN, died Friday, June 26, 2009 at the Albert Lea Medical Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 10:30 AM at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells, MN. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 30, 2009 from 4:00-8:00 PM at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Father Eugene Stenzel will officiate and burial will be in St. Casimir Cemetery in Wells.
Dorothy Mae Stenzel was born September 22, 1935, the daughter of Charles and Clara ‎(Buschow)‎ Giese in Walnut Lake Twp., Faribault Co., MN. Dorothy graduated from Wells High School. On January 13, 1958, she was united in marriage to Stanley Stenzel in Wells, MN. Dorothy was a switchboard operator for the Wells Phone Company. She worked as an aide for The Shepherd’s Inn in Wells. She was a member of Bridge Club and Waseca County Extension, and also a member of St. Casimir Catholic Church, St. Theresa’s Circle and the VFW Auxiliary. Dorothy enjoyed crafting, needlepoint, sewing, gardening, canning, playing cards, Bingo and fishing. She collected Waterford waffle crystal. Her pride and joy were her 19 grandchildren.
Dorothy is survived by her husband Stanley of Wells; 7 children: sons: Steven ‎(Julie)‎ Stenzel, Larry ‎(Juanita)‎ Stenzel, all of Wells, 5 daughters: Rita ‎(Ed)‎ Niebuhr of Wells, Diane ‎(Fran)‎ Baudoin of Dexter, MN, Suzie Lutteke, Cindy ‎(Mike)‎ Weber, all of Wells, MN, Teresa ‎(Mark)‎ Halbach of Glenville, MN; 19 grandchildren: Ben, Josh, Kayla and David Stenzel; Angie, Darin, and Anthony Stenzel; Crysta, Jordan and Felicia Niebuhr; Elana and Colette Baudoin; Brooke, Travis and Whitney Lutteke; Carly and Delaney Weber; Marisa and Gavin Halbach; 2 sisters: Dorine ‎(Rueben)‎ Miller of Wells, MN, Mildred Long of Cambridge, MN; along with numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters: Irene ‎(George)‎ Soost, Evelyn Zabel, Grace ‎(Milton)‎ Vogelsang, brother and sister, Melvin and Emily in infancy. Sister-in-law: Kathy Stenzel; brother-in-law: David Stenzel in infancy.