Dorothy L. Ploeger, age 66, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Sunday, April 27, 2008 at Loring Hospital in Sac City, Iowa, after a year-long battle with cancer.

Funeral services for Mrs. Ploeger will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be at E&R Church Cemetery in rural Schaller, Iowa. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home will in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call Wednesday, April 30, 2008 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, where the family will be present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Dorothy Louise Hogrefe was born July 31, 1941 to Herman, Jr. and Louise Hogrefe in Holstein, Iowa. Dorothy’s childhood was spent in the Cushing and Holstein, Iowa area. She graduated from Cushing High School in 1959; she then attended nursing training in Sioux City, Iowa at St. Vincent’s. Dorothy then worked in Cherokee until she married Lorence G. Ploeger of Galva, Iowa on October 6, 1962. They were blessed with three children: Marie Louise, Patricia Kay and James Allen. Dorothy also worked as a nurse for Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake. She retired in 1983.

She leaves her husband, Lorence of Storm Lake; two daughters: Marie Bruns and husband, Dale of Galva; Patricia Wilhelm and husband, David of Schaller, Iowa; five grandchildren: Jennifer Marie Bruns and special friend, Denis Matheis of Aurelia, Iowa; Jonathon Dale Bruns and special friend, Elissa Jordt of Galva; James Henry Bruns and special friend, Jessica Johnson of Ankeny, Iowa; and Elizabeth Lynn Wilhelm and Wyatt William of Schaller; her parents, Herman and Louise Hogrefe, Jr. of Holstein; brother- and sister-in-law Lorn and Elaine Johannsen of Paullina, Iowa; extended family and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by a son, James Allen Ploeger; and her father- and mother-in-law, Clarence and Zoa Ploeger.