Janette Jean Dotzler
May 14, 1943 — November 26, 2015
Janette “Janet” Jean Dotzler was born on May 14, 1943 to Clarence and Irene (Goetzinger) Backhaus in Manilla, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance where she remained a life-long member. She attended school in Manilla, Iowa and graduated with the Class of 1961. During the summer while still in high school, she rented an apartment in Harlan so she could work at Mickel’s Restaurant. After graduation, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, and worked for a short time for Keis Dental Laboratory.
On July 11, 1964, Janet was united in marriage to Donald Dotzler. They lived in Omaha for a short time before settling in Defiance, where they made their home for fifty years. There were two sons born to them: Jim and Dan. Janet stayed home to raise her boys, going to work at CDS when they were older. She retired from CDS after nineteen years. After her retirement, she helped people in their homes with errands, housework, and other needs.
Janet loved getting together with the ladies on Mondays to play cards, going to her grandchildren’s activities, and visiting with her friends on the phone. Janet also enjoyed cooking food for family gatherings, especially her cranberry salad. She supported her boys’ love of hunting by becoming an excellent pheasant cook. Her grandkids always knew there would be something to snack on at her house. They especially loved her coffee cake and gingersnaps.
She was admitted to Myrtue Medical Center where she died on Thursday, November 26, 2015 after complications from battling cancer for a year and a half. She attained the age of seventy-two years, six months, and twelve days. She was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband of fifty-one years Donald Dotzler of Defiance, Iowa; sons Jim Dotzler of Defiance and Dan Dotzler and his wife Cindy of Ida Grove, Iowa; three grandchildren: Ciara, Ben, and Ellie; sisters: Faye Jacobsen of Harlan, Iowa, Rachel Dolby of Irwin, Iowa, and Sandy and her husband Kent Gruhn of Manilla, Iowa; other family members and many friends.
On July 11, 1964, Janet was united in marriage to Donald Dotzler. They lived in Omaha for a short time before settling in Defiance, where they made their home for fifty years. There were two sons born to them: Jim and Dan. Janet stayed home to raise her boys, going to work at CDS when they were older. She retired from CDS after nineteen years. After her retirement, she helped people in their homes with errands, housework, and other needs.
Janet loved getting together with the ladies on Mondays to play cards, going to her grandchildren’s activities, and visiting with her friends on the phone. Janet also enjoyed cooking food for family gatherings, especially her cranberry salad. She supported her boys’ love of hunting by becoming an excellent pheasant cook. Her grandkids always knew there would be something to snack on at her house. They especially loved her coffee cake and gingersnaps.
She was admitted to Myrtue Medical Center where she died on Thursday, November 26, 2015 after complications from battling cancer for a year and a half. She attained the age of seventy-two years, six months, and twelve days. She was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband of fifty-one years Donald Dotzler of Defiance, Iowa; sons Jim Dotzler of Defiance and Dan Dotzler and his wife Cindy of Ida Grove, Iowa; three grandchildren: Ciara, Ben, and Ellie; sisters: Faye Jacobsen of Harlan, Iowa, Rachel Dolby of Irwin, Iowa, and Sandy and her husband Kent Gruhn of Manilla, Iowa; other family members and many friends.
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