Dorothy Marie Pitzen 3/23/1922 - 2/18/2015

Dorothy Lay Himpelmann Pitzen, age 92, of Johnsburg, died February 18, 2015. She was born on March 23, 1922, the fourth of five children born to John & Emma Lay in Spring Grove.

Dorothy traveled in 1942 from Chicago, where she was living and working, to San Francisco, CA to marry Joseph Himpelmann, who was serving in the Army there during World War II. They settled in Johnsburg after the war. After Joe’s death in 1960, she continued to raise her eight children with the help and support of family and friends, many from St. John the Baptist Parish, where she worshiped as a devout Catholic. Dorothy was involved at St. John the Baptist Church in many organizations and ministries, including the Blessed Virgin Mother Sodality, Welcoming Committee and Prayer Groups. She was also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and was an insurance agent for this organization. Dorothy also worked many years for the Barr-Don Corporation in Mount Prospect until she retired.

She and Paul Pitzen married at St. John’s in 1986 and enjoyed 22 years together until Paul’s death in 2008.

Dorothy is survived by her sister, Marie Weingart and her brother, Edmund Lay. Survivors also include her children, Richard (Diane), Joel (Carolyn), Mary (Jack) Weightman, Dave (Sue), Betty, Barb (Tom) Kasting, Steve (Sue) and Ron (Karla). Paul’s children from his first marriage to Virginia include: Joyce (Rex) Coon, Paul Jr. (Kim) and Loren (Cindy). Other survivors include 19 grandchildren, Danielle (Dave) Klein, Denise (Bryan) Straube, Debbi and fiance Steve Dolloff, Melissa (Jake) Pereria, Matt (Lorene) Himpelmann, Jodi (Darren) Tate, Michael (Elena) Weightman, Steve (Jen) Weightman, Julie (Mike) Dahlin, Joe (Stacey) Himpelmann, Ann Marie (Alex) Chapman, Andrea (Joe) Hawkinson, Gretchen and Ben Kasting, Lauren Himpelmann and fiance Matt Starr, Emma and Maddie Himpelmann, Shari (Mark) Norman, Kevin Himpelmann, 25 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild on the Himpelmann side of the family. Also, Pitzen grandchildren Beth (Josh) Pranger, Brian (Jennifer) Coon, Christine and Samantha Pitzen, and 8 great-grand-children and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Leander (Jean Whiting) Lay and her sister, Agnes (Jerry) Klaus; her brother-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Weingart and sister-in-law Betty Kilday Lay; Joe's parents, Joseph & Julia Himpelmann; sisters-in-law Kay (Paul) Reindel and Barbara (Melvin) Johnson.

The visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 2015, at Justen Funeral Home & Crematory, 3700 W. Charles J. Miller Road, McHenry IL 60050. Visitation will resume Monday at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. until closing prayers at 9:15 a.m., then leaving for the 10 a.m. funeral Mass at St. John the Baptist Church, 2303 W. Church Street, Johnsburg. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials in Dorothy’s name be made to St. John the Baptist Church.

For information, please call the funeral home at 815-385-2400, or visit www.justenfh.com, where friends may leave an on-line condolence message for her family.

Sincere thanks to all who cared for Mom following her stroke on Christmas Eve, including staff at The Springs in Crystal Lake and Journey Care Hospice.