Dorothy Evelyn (Kirchner) Toellner

Dorothy Evelyn (Kirchner) Toellner, life-long resident of Cooper County, passed away peacefully Saturday, May 22, 2021 surrounded by her beloved family.

Visitation for Dorothy will be at Howard Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 25 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be at Zion Lutheran Church on Wednesday, May 26 at 11:00 A.M., with visitation an hour prior. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Dorothy was born June 15, 1928, near Boonville to Carl and Nora (Martin) Kirchner. She grew up in the Clarks Fork community where she attended Washington School for 8 years and then Boonville High School, which she graduated from in 1946. Dorothy was baptized and confirmed on July 1, 1946, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Boonville.

Dorothy was employed by Schlotzhauer Motor Sales until her marriage to Herbert Toellner on October 25, 1947. The couple then resided in Lone Elm on their farm where they began their family. To this union was born 4 daughters: Janet Widner, Laverne McKee (Robert), Alice Simmons, and Julie Greer (Stephen Nappier). Over the next few years, Dorothy worked hard raising her children and helping her husband on the farm. As her girls went off to school, Dorothy was employed at The Windmill Restaurant in Boonville as a waitress and later worked for 25 years as a bookkeeper for Vanderhoof Farm Supply in Lone Elm and at the Prairie Home Coop.

Dorothy was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Zion Ladies Aid, and many other church organizations. She volunteered for many years at Zion Lutheran School after her retirement. While she was there, she worked with many young readers, touching their minds and helping their hearts grow. Through this work, she affectionately became known to so many as “Grandma Dot”.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 49 years, beloved Aunt Mertie Niemand, sister Nora “Bun” Siedenburg, two brother-in-laws Earl Twillman and Arthur Siedenburg, one sister-in-law Bonnie Kirchner, and two son-in-laws Bill Simmons and Lee Widner.

Dorothy is survived by two siblings Jeanelle Twillman and Eldon Kirchner, four daughters, nine grandchildren: Melissa (John) Siegel, Tim (Dana Oser) Widner, Robin (Eric) Bishop, Travis McKee, Angie (Brian) Young, Christie (Daniel) Zoeller, Joey (Sabrina) Simmons, Steve (Tammy) Greer, and Sarah (Joe) Kinder, fourteen great-grandchildren: Ethan Siegel, Isabella and Weston Widner, Cara and Evan Bishop, Brianna Young, Sophia, Olivia and Ava Zoeller, Grace and Grant Simmons, Ayden Wack, and Harlee and Jett Kinder, and many nephews, nieces and cousins. Her family members will never forget the special nicknames she gave each of them, Sunday dinners spent with family, the BEST fried chicken and pies around, her well-tended garden and beautiful flower beds, pots of geraniums on her deck, her devotion to God and George Strait playing in the background.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Zion Lutheran Church or School. 

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