Dorothy Walter

Dorothy Walter
Des Moines, Iowa

Dorothy passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday evening, September 10, 2024 with family members by her side.

Dorothy Marie Walter was born on June 20, 1932 in Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota, the daughter of W. J. (Bill) and Marie (Brownson) Rossman. They all lived in Grandma Brownson’s big white house on Maple Street until her parents bought their own house. She attended Mount Marty College Model School (grades 1-4) and Sacred Heart School (grades 5 – 8). She graduated from Mount Marty High School in June, 1950. That fall she entered Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in May, 1953 and finishing service hours August 1. On August 12, 1953 she married Dennis J. Walter at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They lived in Iowa City, Iowa where Dorothy was a nurse in the nursery at Mercy Hospital while Dennis completed his senior year at the University of Iowa Medical School. In the spring of 1954, Dorothy’s father (plus financial assistance from Grandma B) found a car so Dorothy and Dennis became the owners of a 1941 Ford they named “Bessie” – no more hauling the laundry to the laundromat on the bus.

Dennis graduated in June, and in July he began an internship at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. They lived in an apartment (Wakonda Village) furnished by the hospital. On July 9, 1954, William John (Bill) was born. Dennis completed his internship on June 30, 1955 and began his practice in family medicine that fall. They joined All Saints Catholic Church. Dorothy became a member of the choir and later became the cantor for early morning mass and was cantor for many funerals at the Parish.

In 1956 they purchased a house. A son, Robert Joseph (Bob), was born in 1958 and a son Patrick James was born in 1960. Bill started school at All Saints Catholic School in 1960. As the boys grew older, Dorothy was active in Mother’s Club (PTA) and was home room mother for each of her sons. Dorothy took the class at DMACC and learned to drive the school bus, mostly for field trips (or substitute driver). “Remember to park the bus so you don’t have to back up”.

Dennis was active in many medical groups. He attended State and National Meetings and often Dorothy would “tag along”. Dorothy was active in the PC Medical Society Auxiliary. She was a volunteer on the Holy Family School board, the Dowling School board, the Dowling guild board, and on the board of the Home Care Agency.
For fun, she was a member of a group of doctor’s wives bridge club. She was the only survivor of that club. In her later years, she began to play Duplicate Bridge at the Senior Center. She was still playing until her 92nd birthday. In 1963 they built a house in Saylorville and they moved into the house in April of 1964. Their son Michael Jerome was born in November, 1964 and Dennis James in July of 1966.

Over the years, Dorothy attended many Little League games as well as other events (swim meets, tennis matches, basketball games, then many more when the boys began high school (basketball games, wrestling matches, baseball games, and track meets).

Dennis was a volunteer for the Drake Relays and Dorothy was at the Relays also. As the boys married and had children there were many events of the grandchildren (soft ball, soccer games, band concerts, choral concerts.) Dennis and Dorothy went with Dowling choir on their trip to Rome, the year the Pope died.

Dennis and Dorothy took several trips to see Drake Men’s Basketball (1969 Final Four). They also went to many Women’s Final Four. They went to Ireland for their 50th wedding anniversary. They went to Austria and Germany and saw the Passion Play.

In 1983 the director of the Home Care Agency offered Dorothy a position as a nurse case manager and working in the Meals on Wheels program, so Dorothy reactivated her nursing license and went to work.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dennis, son Bill, brother Lawrence Rossman, sister Marjorie Giesler and 2 brothers in infancy, Joseph and Daniel.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law Phyllis Walter (Bill’s widow), his children Amy, Robert (Krystal) and Susan Walter and their mother Nancy Walter, Robert Walter, Patrick Walter (Teresa) and their children Emily Johnson (Josh) and Ellie Ronnau (Max), Michael Walter (Elizabeth) and their children Tom (Kendra), Erin, and Eleanor Walter, Dennis Walter II and his son Kyle Walter. She is also survived by her great grandchildren: Jackson and Penelope Walter, Hadley, Camden and Ryder Johnson, Willow Walter, and Violet Ronnau.

The family suggests memorials be given to All Saints Catholic Church, Dowling Catholic High School, Bishop Drumm Care Center, or Broadlawns Medical Center Foundation.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., at All Saints Catholic Church, 650 NE 52nd Ave., Des Moines, Iowa. Family will greet guests on Monday, September 16, 2024 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m., Rosary at the church. Burial will take place at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 1 NE 60th Ave., Des Moines.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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