Dorothy Ellen Borchert

Services for Dorothy Ellen Borchert, 90, of Indianola, Iowa will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church (Germantown) in Lacona, Iowa. Family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m., with a luncheon at noon. Interment will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery (Germantown) in Lacona. Memorials may be made to Dorothy’s family.

You may join Dorothy’s family via livestream at https://my.gather.app/remember/dorothy-borchert

Dorothy Ellen (Vander Ecken) Borchert was born September 8, 1931, to parents Lawrence Vander Ecken and Hannah (Lundeen) Vander Ecken. She grew up in Melcher as a “coal miner’s daughter” with siblings Marjorie, Maxine, Thelma, Fred, and Beverly. Siblings lost early in life included Marcella, John and George Vander Ecken. She was united in marriage to Marvin Borchert at St. Paul Lutheran Church on January 22, 1950. Dorothy passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on September 16, 2021.

Dorothy’s career included appointment as a personal secretary to long-term Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray. In her later years, she worked for the US Postal Service. After retirement, Dorothy and Marvin enjoyed vacationing and spending time with family. If they didn’t answer the phone, they were probably off to Vegas. Dorothy loved spending time with her sisters, baking Christmas treats, shopping, or “running to the casino.” She was also famous for her elephant collection and a classic car you could recognize from anywhere.

Dorothy was “aunt mom” and “aunt grandma” to many nieces and nephews and later to many great nieces and nephews. She was the very best at putting the babies to sleep, often at the bewilderment of their mothers and grandmothers. She loved spending time with little ones and for many years made Christmas very special, providing bigger and better gifts than Santa Claus. If you saw her at the state fair or the church picnic, she might slip you $20 and whisper, “don’t tell anyone.”

Dorothy was a golden-haired beauty with an infectious laugh and an extraordinarily giving spirit. Her generosity was heartwarming and sometimes humorous, as she rarely took “no” for an answer. If she asked you if you wanted a soda, and you respectfully declined, she might respond with, “Pepsi or Mountain Dew?” Before you left her house, you would be offered candy bars and if you didn’t grab them, they would mysteriously later appear in your pocket.

Dorothy’s story absolutely exemplifies a “life well lived.” She was strong, determined, hard-working, and gave freely to her friends and family. She was loved deeply, and we look forward to seeing her again in heaven, where we will probably find her standing at the Pearly Gates handing out sodas.