Dorothy Welcher

DOROTHY WELCHER

Mount Pleasant

Dorothy Welcher, 79, of Mount Pleasant, died Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, at her home surrounded by her family and friends. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant. The Rev. Paul Connolly will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in St. Alphonsus Cemetery. According to Dorothy's wishes, her body will be deeded to the University of Iowa College of Medicine following the service. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the church with the family present. A rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. followed by a vigil prayer service. The funeral Mass will be live streamed on St. Alphonsus YouTube channel: "St. Al's MP Livestream." Masks are required for attendance of the visitation and funeral Mass. A memorial fund has been established for Notre Dame High School and St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel is caring for Dorothy and her family. Messages may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Dorothy was born July 13, 1941, in St. Mary's, Iowa, in Warren County, the daughter of Ignatius and Nelle (Ryan) Gehringer. On July 9, 1966, she was united in marriage to Gary Welcher in Burlington. They made their home in the Mount Pleasant community, where Dorothy worked as a medical secretary for Dr. Garrels and Dr. Nichols.

She was a very active member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Dorothy volunteered many places in the community, including hospice. She always was giving of her self to others through plasma donations and with Women's Health Initiative.

Survivors include her husband, Gary; six children, Elizabeth (Andrew) Kapust of Olympia, Wash., Lesley (Brett) Holgorsen of Houston, Texas, Kathleen (Jason) Fry of Mount Pleasant, Michael Welcher of Mount Pleasant, Mary (Robert) Rasmussen of Baltimore, Md., and Dave (Lynn) Foulke of Eden Prairie, Minn.; 11 grandchildren, Ryan and Ella Kapust, Clayton and Garrett Holgorsen, Katelyn, Kirstin and Jacob Fry, Erik, Adam and Tyler Rasmussen and Brianna Foulke; two great-grandchildren, Malachi Foulke and Chloe Rasmussen; a sister, Louise Christian of Williamston, Mich.; and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, David and Joe Gehringer; and a sister, Geneva Morrison.