Dorothy Tollefson

Dorothy E. “Sister” Tollefson, age 88, of Merrill, passed away Friday, March 26, 2010, at St. Clare’s Hospital in Weston. She was born November 8, 1921 in Sheboygan , the daughter of the late Arthur and Dorothy (Shimek) Burrow. She married Herbert Nelson on November 26, 1938 in Wausau . He preceded her in death on April 21, 1952. On October 26, 1957, she married Kenneth Tollefson in Merrill. They lived in Milwaukee for many years and later retired to a home they built on Lake Alice . He preceded her in death on October 26, 2001.

Dorothy was a homemaker for most of her life. She not only made her own home, “home’, but also brought life to the homes of her family and to Bell Tower where she spent the last 4 years of her life. She loved to teach herself and then teach others crafts of all types. She was proud of this talent and was an asset to Bell Tower activities because of her ideas and willingness to share. She was a true “belle” of Bell Tower . Dorothy was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill. She was an active participant of the Busy Bees 4H club. She had been a volunteer for the Tomahawk Senior Center and also had been a member of the Ladies Moose Lodge in Merrill.

She is survived by her 2 daughters: Dianne Jach of Milwaukee and Donna (Roger) Baumgart of Merrill; 5 grandchildren: Perry(Donna) Jach of Menomonee Falls, JoAnne Jach of Milwaukee, Mathew (Lynn) Jach of Greenfield, Brian (Lori) Baumgart of Prairie Du Sac, and Lisa (Brad) Peck of Wausau; 11 great-grandchildren; Alvin (Jenny), Timothy, Garrett and Zachary Jach, Andy Lewek, Matalyn and Joshua Jach, Amanda and Bradley Baumgart and Trevor and Molly Peck; 2 great great-grandchildren; Brady Lewek and Lily Jach; 7 sisters: Totsy Kleinschmidt, Jacky Stiver and Honey Weber all of Merrill, Molly McEwen of Little Chute, Jerri Mahn of Green Bay, Barbara Simpson and Sally (Paul) Robbins all of Luxemburg; 5 brothers; Sam (Millie), John, Bill (Delores) and Ronnie (Malinda) Burrow all of Merrill and Tom Burrow of Racine; 1 sister-in-law; Mona Burrow of Merrill. Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, 1 infant son: Larry, 1 granddaughter: Amy Jach, and 3 brothers; Arthur Jr, Patrick and Donald Burrow.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, April 10, 2010, at Bell Tower Residence Chapel. The Rev.R. Brian Stolarczyk will officiate. Burial will take place at Merrill Memorial Park . Visitation will be from 9 AM until the hour of services Saturday, April 10, 2010, at Bell Tower Residence Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Bell Tower Residence in honor of Dorothy. The Waid Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online tributes may be made at www.waidfuneral.com .