Dorothy Pearl Joosten age 94 passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at the Northfield Retirement Center. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2017 at the Tracy Lutheran Church. Burial was held in the Tracy City Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Tracy Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Dorothy Pearl (Ziemke) Joosten was born June 30, 1923 in Holly Township in rural Murray County, Minnesota to Ernest Richard and Winnie Marilla (Olson) Ziemke. She was baptized November 11, 1923 and confirmed on September 27, 1936. Dorothy attended country schools and graduated from Tracy High School in 1941. She attended Mankato Teacher’s College and taught two years in country schools. Dorothy lived on farms near Worthington and Brewster. She returned to college and attended Mankato State College and began teaching first at Reading, Minnesota and then at Worthington. Dorothy graduated from Southwest State in 1973 with a degree in elementary education. From 1970 to 2008, she lived on a farm near Balaton and taught at Balaton in the elementary school until her retirement at age 64. Dorothy was selected as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America for 1972.
She was an active member of Tracy Lutheran, participating in church Circle, a member of the Shetek Retreat Board, and taught Sunday School. She was also a member of Balaton Women of Today and RSVP. Dorothy was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, crafts, raising houseplants, sewing, knitting, crocheting, raising poultry and reading. Dorothy will be remembered for her kindness, her green thumb, and her love of teaching.
She is survived by her children: Nancy Joosten, Mark (Debbie) Joosten and John R. (Lani) Joosten; grandchildren: Thomas Ager, Sarah (Eric) Swanson, Jeff (Cecily) Joosten, Jill (Kevin) Baer, David (Jackie) Joosten, Michael (Jessica) Joosten, and John (Gina) Joosten; 11 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters: Donna Greene, Elaine Andrews, and June Farr; and brothers-in-law: Lee Andrews, Floyd Farr and George Greene.