Dorothy J. Gimpel

Dorothy Jean (Lee) Gimpel, age 88, passed away on Thursday, 3 October 2019 at New Perspectives Senior Living in Prior Lake MN. Funeral services will be 5:30 PM, Thursday, October 10, 2019, at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville, MN. Visitation will begin at 4 PM, Thursday, also at the church. Burial will be 3 PM, Friday, at Graceland Cemetery in Madison, SD.

Dorothy was born 9 August 1931, in Lake Norden SD, to Rudolph Olaus and Selma Helena (Olson) Lee.  She attended school at Lake Norden SD, and graduated as valedictorian of her class.  Dorothy married Donald Ellsworth Gimpel on 16 March 1951 in Madison SD.  She worked 35 years as a PERA at William Byrne Elementary School in Burnsville MN.  Dorothy was a member of Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville since 1969, and volunteered for many years with Vacation Bible School.  She also worked as a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of the USA, Lakeville Service Unit, and was an icon at New Perspectives Senior Living with her social personality and infectious laugh. 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph and Selma (Olson) Lee; her husband, Donald Gimpel in 1989; her son Dennis Gimpel in 1972; three sisters, Ruth Wood, Myrtle Arnold and Lorraine Volheim; and 6 brothers, Wallace Lee, Raymond Lee, Clyde Lee, Stanley Lee, Howard Lee, and Robert Lee.

She is survived by three children, Dudley Gimpel of Atascadero CA, Donna (Gregory) Heinz of Lakeville MN, and Dixon Gimpel of Prior Lake MN; three grandchildren, Annelise Heinz of Bloomington MN, Aleksandr Heinz of Lakeville MN, and Sabrina Hooper of Nice CA; one great grandchild, Scarlett Beltran of Nice CA; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Memorials are preferred.

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