Obituary: John Doppenberg

John Doppenberg, 81, of Jackson, passed away on Sunday, January 20, 2013, at the Sanford Jackson Hospital. Funeral service will be on Friday, January 25, 2013 at 11:00AM at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor John Schuetz officiating. Burial will be at New Woodlawn Cemetery in Pipestone, Minnesota at 3:00PM.

Visitation will be on Thursday, January 24, 2013, from 5-7PM at the Osterberg Funeral Home and also one hour prior to the service at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society.

John Doppenberg was born on July 2, 1931 in Rock Rapids, Iowa, the son of Gerrit and Fannie (Doeksen) Doppenberg. He attended country school near Hull, Iowa. After his education, he worked on the family farm. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Schaper on August 31, 1958 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Woodstock, Minnesota. He had met Dorothy on a blind date. After marriage, they lived in Balaton, where he worked for DeVries Motors for 10 years. In 1968, they moved to Slayton, where he was a route man for Culligan. In 1974, they moved to Jackson, where he became the custodian at the District #324 schools. He then became the head custodian for the High School for 18 years before retiring in 1993. He had also worked part-time as the custodian for REA during those years. John had also been a maintenance man at the Best Western and the Jackson County Fair Grounds. John passed away at the Sanford Jackson Hospital on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at the age of 81 years, 6 months and 18 days.

John was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. He had been baptized and confirmed as an adult at St. James Lutheran Church in Holland, Minnesota. He enjoyed camping and fishing with his grandchildren. John and Dorothy took trips to Colorado in their RV. They also had been on an Alaskan Cruise and had taken many bus trips. They had camped at Bellows Campground on Little Spirit and he had been the caretaker and maintenance man there, finally retiring in 2003.

John is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Dorothy Doppenberg of Jackson, his three children, Nancy Ward of Jackson; Lori (Brian) Rumpza of Cottage Grove, Minnesota; David (Tammy) Doppenberg of Alpha, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Nathan (Nikki) Ward and Danielle Ward and special friend, Josh Laden, Josh Rumpza and Andy Rumpza, Traci Eichols and Derek Eichols; a sister, Bertha (Ralph) VanderBerg of Lakewood, Colorado; 2 sisters-in-law, Lucy (Darwin) Lovell of Storden, Minnesota and Irma (Dale) Grimnitz of Rosemount, Minnesota and many nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Everdena Gookin.

Blessed be the memory of John Doppenberg.

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