Dorothy M. Klumpyan
Dorothy M. Klumpyan entered the gates of heaven on January 15, 2013 with her loving family by her side at St. Agnes Hospital. Dorothy was born on a farm in Marathon Wisconsin on March 7, 1928, a daughter of Matthew and Marie (Blume) Wagner. She and her four sisters grew up practicing their Catholic faith and learning the skills of the farming community. She met and married the love of her life, Ervin Klumpyan, in 1947 and together brought 8 wonderful children into the world. For the next 31 years, their focus was raising their Christian family. She shared her life with her husband, Ervin, before his unexpected death in 1978. During the next 35 years she continued to actively live her Christian values through her family and community.
Dorothy always thought about others before herself. All her spare time was dedicated to serving those in need. This is very evident in the many organizations and services she was a part of. She was an active member of Holy Family Parish, where she attended daily Mass. She was an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at Holy Family Parish and to the homebound. She also was a member of the bereavement ministry, nursing home volunteer and regular visitor of the homebound. Dorothy was an officer and past president of St. Joseph Catholic Women, member of the Human Concerns, church decorating ministry committee, Hospice Hope volunteer, and Hospice Bereavement Ministry. She was a part of the St. Mary’s Springs H.S. Grandparents’ Club, American Nursing Home, member, officer and past president of the Regent and State Chairperson for Daughters of Isabella. She was involved with the Daughters of Isabella Grandmothers’ Club, Fond du Lac Chapter Right to Life, Member and Charter member of St. Francis Home Auxiliary, member and past president of NAIM (widow and widowers).
Dorothy was one of the founders of Loaves and Fishes as well as a coordinator and past board member, secretary of the Fond du Lac Citizens for Decency through Law, White Ribbon Campaign Chairman, Community Affairs Commission – District 8 MAACW, State Chairperson of the Daughters of Isabella Anti-Pornography Program, member of the Wisconsin Chapter of Right to Life, board member of the Morality in Media of Wisconsin, member of the Wisconsin Council of Catholic Women and Legislative Chairperson, and provided mission work and quilting for the needy. Without a doubt her involvement in church, community, and national organizations has truly made a difference in many lives.
Dorothy was also an award winner of the St. Mary’s Springs H.S. Booster of the Year, the Mother of Good Counsel from MACCW, the Patricia O’Hearn Service Award (Servant of the Poor), the “Our Lady of Good Counsel Recognition Award” (Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women), the Cheers For Volunteers Spirit of Compassion Award and was also scheduled to receive the very first Mother/Daughter Award presented by the Women of Achievement (Women’s Fund of the FDL Area Foundation) in April. She traveled twice to the Holy Land with parish friends and visited the place where Jesus, her Savior was born.
Her spirituality, humility and dedication in sharing the light of Christ with other people was Dorothy’s mission in life. Dorothy’s favorite holiday was Christmas. Not only was her house blanketed with the winter snow, but also thousands of blue and green Christmas lights. She treasured going to movies, St. Mary’s Springs H.S. football games, playing cards with her family, annual trip to Eagle River with her family, planting hundreds of bright pink petunias every spring, baking her famous sour cream cookies (always delivering them with a smile) and writing her annual Christmas letter.
Dorothy is survived by her 8 children: Darlene (Robert) Duley of Westfield, WI, David (JoAnn) Klumpyan of Fond du Lac, Debbie (Tom) Price of Spring Grove, IL, Denise (Dave) Schuenemann of Fond du Lac, WI, Dawn (Joe) Colwin of Campbellsport, Diane (Mike) Friedel of McFarland, WI, Darcy (Randy) Dussault of Antioch, IL, Dan (Karen) Klumpyan of Mount Calvary, WI; 24 grandchildren: Daycia (Scott) Johnston, Tara (Shawn) Meinke, Aly (Jake) Congdon, Carina (Brian) Zinda, Marisa (Mark) Ewing, Kason (Jennifer) Klumpyan, Kari (Ryan) Graham, Kale (Claudia) Klumpyan, Karter Klumpyan, Jessica (Joe) Coffey, Marty Price, Kendra (Jim ) Coughlin, Keah Schuenemann, Tyler Schuenemann, Nici Colwin, Ben (Sandra) Colwin, Cassie (Kevin) Morasch, Katie (Tim) Halverson, Rebecca Friedel, Garrett Friedel, Ryan Dussault, Jennifer Dussault, Michael Dussault, and Jennifer (Greg) Schmitz; 18 great grandchildren: Reid, Keegan and Claudia Johnston, Connor and Madison Meinke, Griffin and Afton Congdon, Calvin and Cooper Zinda, Fletcher Ewing, Miah Graham, Emily Coffey, Ayda and Thaden Colwin, Bryson and Anna Halverson, Vynessa Meyer and Dorothy Schmitz; 3 sisters: Lucy (Jim) Sorenson of Madison, WI, Grace (Jerry) Brickner of Marathon, WI and Mary (Jeff) Flamino of Mosinee, WI; also by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Matt and Marie Wagner of Marathon, WI, her twin infant sister, Delphine, infant brother, Kenneth, husband, Ervin, and sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Hugo Seubert of Marathon, WI.
Visitation: The family of Dorothy will receive visitors on Friday, January 18 from 4:30-8 PM at Zacherl Funeral Home, 875 E. Division St., Fond du Lac. There is also visitation on Saturday, January 19 at 10:00 AM until 11:45 AM at Holy Family Church, 271 Fourth Street Way, Fond du Lac.
Services: A Mass of Christian burial will be at 12:00 PM at Holy Family Church with Fr. Patrick Heppe as presider. Entombment will follow at the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum, Ledgeview Memorial Park, Fond du Lac.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established in her name with St. Vincent DePaul Society, St. Mary’s Springs Academy, New Beginnings, and Holy Family Parish.
The family of Dorothy would like to thank Dr. Michael Sergi for his extra ordinary care and compassion he provided to our mom over the years.
Zacherl Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family. www.zacherlfuneralhome.com