Dorothy I. Brandstetter

Dorothy I. Brandstetter, 94, of Wayne, Nebraska, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 3, at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Wayne, Nebraska with the Rev. Doyle Burbank-Williams officiating. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the church. The visitation will be preceded by an Eastern Star Service at 5:30 p.m. also at the church. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Wayne. Dorothy was born on March 12, 1915 in Brunswick, Nebraska, the daughter of William and Lulu (Pollack) Dempster. After the untimely death of her mother in the great flu pandemic of 1917-18, William remarried and she and her brothers were raised by their step-mother Edna Dempster. Dorothy married Orval Brandstetter on February 21, 1937 in Neligh, Nebraska. The young couple moved to Wayne in 1941. She was an active member of the First Untied Methodist Church for 61 years serving in many capacities including the UMW. Dorothy was a 60 year member of the Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, and the Board of Directors of the Nebraska State Cancer Society. Dorothy learned to swim in her early 60's when she and Orval were founding members of the Senior Citizens Wellness group at Wayne State College. During the gas shortage of the 70's she was often seen riding her moped around Wayne, but steered clear of moving up to a Harley-Davidson. Dorothy's love of serving people and community, her flower garden, bridge, church, many friends and family kept her fulfilled. She spent the last years at The Oaks in Wayne where she truly enjoyed many friendship and activities. May there be bingo in heaven with quarters as prizes. Dorothy's gracious nature, her laugh and loving heart will be greatly missed by her family. Dorothy is survived by her sons: Larry and Faye Brandstetter of Red Oak, Iowa and their son Dan, daughter-in-law Amy and grandsons Garrett and Jackson of Le Claire, Iowa; Jerry Brandstetter of Wayne, and his son Chris Brandstetter of Lincoln, Nebraska; and John Brandstetter of Montclair, New Jersey. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Orval, and her brothers Donald and Dwight.