Dorothy Idella Pfaffe

Dorothy Idella Pfaffe, age 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at The Plum City Care Center in Plum City, Wisconsin.
Dorothy was born on February 24, 1930, to Edward and Idella (Zinter) Gall in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. She attended Bremer Elementary School, Jordan Junior High and North High School in Minneapolis where she graduated with the class of 1948.
On December 23, 1950, she married the love of her life, Marvin Pfaffe, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Marvin was serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Following their wedding, Marvin returned to where he was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At this time Dorothy was completing her nurses training at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis. Once she completed her state boards and received her certification as a Registered Nurse, she joined Marvin in Oklahoma where they began their married life together.
Shortly thereafter in 1951, Marvin was transferred to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska where Dorothy joined him. She served as a civilian personnel nurse with her own staff car driver as she checked up on workers who called in sick. While in Alaska, in May of 1953, their first daughter, Janet, was born.
As the war began to wind down, and one final transfer to Washington, D.C., the young Pfaffe family moved back home to Minneapolis. In 1954 they joined the newly formed congregation of The Lutheran Church of the Triune God (LCMS) in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota where they were members until 2013. In 1956 their second daughter, Nancy, was born. Then in 1963 their son Daniel was born.
Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother. As the grandchildren were born, Dorothy and Marvin found great joy in travelling the miles to visit and shower much love. Both Marvin and Dorothy enjoyed golfing together and with their friends from church. Dorothy’s faith was instrumental in her life, sharing her faith with her family and church family with being active in the church.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Janet (Dennis) Karius of Plymouth, MN, Nancy (Allen) Lindh of Plymouth, MN and Daniel (Debra) of Durand, WI, 11 grandchildren; Sarah (Richard), Katie (Michael), Adam (Katie), Susan (Kevin), Michael (Shannon), Matthew (Lacey), Peter (Patrice), Mark (Jenilee), Andrew (Audrey), Carissa (Ansel) and Jonathan (Emilee), 27 great grandchildren; Adam, David, Rebekah, Mary, Steven, Paul, Rose, Natalie, Erica, Bente, Sylvi, Malin, Grace, Naomi, Alex, Emily, Rhea, Heidi, Sadie, Colette, Peyton, Allison, Andy, Bella, Gabriel, Elias and Eliana, one sister, Sharon Rassbach of St. Louis, MO, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Marvin and sister, Carol Brown.
Funeral Services will be 11:00AM Thursday, May 14, 2026 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Durand with Rev. Peter Preus officiating. Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Visitation will be from 10:00AM until the time of services at the church on Thursday.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Durand, is serving the family.
Condolences may be made online at www.rhielfuneralhome.com.