Dorothy Jean (Wagner) Strasburg

Dorothy Jean Strasburg, 89, passed away on September 11, 2019, in Suffolk, Virginia, at Lake Prince Woods Assisted Living.  She was born May 18,1930, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Ralph and Marie Wagner.

Dorothy graduated from City High in Iowa City and went on to obtain her BS degree in Nursing from the University of Iowa.  On April 10, 1952, Dorothy was united in marriage to Lenard Strasburg in Iowa City. Soon after, they moved to Manchester, Iowa, where they made their home and raised a family. She and Lenard had four daughters.

Though Dorothy was a nurse, she devoted most of her time and energy to being a loving and caring wife to Lenard and mother to their four girls. A focused and talented homemaker, Dorothy cared about details and beauty. She put her hands to many artistic endeavors including sewing, cooking, baking, gardening, water color painting, and decorating. In 1965, Lenard and Dorothy built a modest home in Manchester overlooking the backwater of the Maquoketa River. Dorothy always kept it beautiful inside and outside, frequently adding special touches such as a bouquet of purple and white lilacs in the middle of the table, special decorations on holidays, a simply potted geranium on the porch steps, or a hand-painted sign hanging in the driveway that said “The Strasburg's”. One thing Dorothy always included on her calendar was special picnic outings remembered and cherished by all of the family!  She was always supportive of her husband’s newspaper career, and his fishing hobby and trips.  She was very attentive to her daughters’ and their families’ endeavors, not to mention being a doting and fun grandmother!

She and Lenard were members of the United Methodist Church where Dorothy often sang in the choir. Dorothy was also an active member of the Manchester Tri-T organization. She was a great golfer and also enjoyed her bridge club and time with friends. Additionally, Dorothy cared for and loved five dogs during her lifetime, the last being her beloved cockapoo, Sophie, known as the 5th daughter!

Left to cherish her memory are her four daughters, Stephanie (Alex) Minor of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Susan (Jeffery) Ploeger of Burlington, Iowa, Sarah (John) Strohman of Pierre, South Dakota, and Ellen (Bruce) Anderson of Suffolk, Virginia; eight grandchildren; six great- grandchildren; and three nieces and one nephew.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Lenard Strasburg in December 2005; her parents, Ralph and Marie Wagner; and her brother, William Wagner.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM, on Saturday, October 12, 2019, at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home, 1500 N. Franklin Street, Manchester, Iowa. The family will greet friends from 10:30 AM until the time of the service at the funeral home. A reception/luncheon will follow at The Bread Basket, 113 East Main Street, Manchester, Iowa.  The family would be honored if you joined them.

Memorial gifts in Dorothy’s honor may be made to Medi Home Health and Hospice or The Alzheimer’s Association, Iowa Chapter.

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