Dorothy Stolz

Dorothy Stolz age 92 of New Hampton died Sunday evening, September 5, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 11, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton with Pastor Kevin Frey officiating. Sid Pearce will be vocalist and will be accompanied by organist Dennis Strum. Interment will be in the New Hampton City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Blake, Larry Moore, Blair Blake, John Hernan, Hans Stolz, and Herman Meyer. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dave Kraft, Kit O'Donohoe, John Rigler, Don Shinstine, Bob Rigler, Dan Feuling, Harlan Pose, Don Jepson, Bill Straw, and the 'P.E.O. Sisters.' Friends may call 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 10, 2010, at the Hugeback and Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Dorothy Vaughan Thomas was born January 18, 1918, in Lime Springs, Iowa. Her parents were Robert W. and Margretta Griffith Thomas. She was educated in Lime Springs and was president of her high school class for four years graduating in 1935. She sang in both her high school and church choirs. She attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids for two years and then transferred to Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduating in 1939. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota National Honorary Music Fraternity. Dorothy then taught music, English, and biology in Fredericksburg, Iowa. On June 29, 1940, she was united in marriage to Norbert Stolz of New Hampton, Iowa. Three children were born to this union: Sheila, Brad, and Sharman. During the years of World War II, Dorothy worked on the local ration board, was employed as a service representative for Bell Telephone in Washington D.C., and was a secretary at the Army Recruiting Office in Seattle, Washington. She later joined her husband in Alaska where Norb built Army installations. After the war, the couple returned to New Hampton. After staying home to help raise her three children, Dorothy returned to the work force as Assistant City Clerk. She then became a social worker for Chickasaw County, a position she held for 16 years. Dorothy was devoted to her faith and to her church. She served as the organist at Trinity Lutheran Church for thirty- six years. Dorothy was a charter member of Miriam Circle, a fifty-nine year member of the PEO sisterhood, and a fifty-five year member of the Loafer Club. She was also a member of Schubert Club, Investment Club, Women’s Club, NH Country Club, and the St. Josephs Hospital Auxiliary. She served as pianist for the Rotary Club until failing health forced her to resign. Those left to honor her memory are her children, Brad (Carol) of Woodinville, Washington, and Sharman (Mike) Blake of West Des Moines, Iowa; six grandchildren, Gabrielle Hernan of Boulder, Co, John (Hillary) Hernan of Madison, WI, Hans and Emma Stolz of Woodinville, WA, Heidi Blake of West Des Moines, IA and Blair Blake of Chicago, IL. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Margretta Thomas; her sister, Florence; her husband, Norb and her daughter, Sheila. Dorothy will be remembered for her gift of music, her community service, and her undying love of her children and grandchildren.