Dorothy Ann Westermann

Dorothy Ann (Plessel) Westermann passed away Thursday, August 27, 2026 at her home in Shoreview, Minnesota at the age of 84.

Dorothy Ann Plessel was born November 25, 1941, in Pine City to Joseph and Marie (Schmidt) Plessel. She graduated from Pine City High School in 1959, where she was active in the band, the 4-H Club, and helping on the family dairy farm.

Following high school, Dorothy moved to Minneapolis for a secretarial job and lived in a “Girls Club” at 10th and LaSalle. She later met Dwight Westermann, and they were married in 1964 while he was stationed in Etain, France in the Air Force. They were married 52 years, until his death in 2017, living in many places including Kewaskum, Poplar, and Eau Claire WI, as well as Burnsville MN and Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Dorothy earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Minnesota in 1990. She held several jobs, working as a realtor, a conference coordinator for Lakewood Publications, a Girl Scouts administrator, and a hearing specialist, as well as earning a pilot’s license. She also held numerous community service positions: She served as a Sunday School teacher and Eucharistic Minister, a school and 4-H Club leader, a Cub Scouts den mother, a Moose Club of Eau Claire volunteer, and a Republican Party event and campaign worker. She had several hobbies and interests including travelling, dancing, sewing, waterskiing, and visiting museums and botanical gardens. She dedicated her greatest time, talent, and energy to raising her family.

She is survived by her son Damian (Julie) Westermann, daughters Dawn Westermann and Deanne (Mark) Silvera, grandchildren Nate Westermann, Nicole (Adam) Ehlenbach, Natalie Silvera, Nicolas (Madelyn) Westermann, and Henry Silvera, great-grandson Gideon Ehlenbach, sisters-in-law Doris Plessel and Karen (Robert) Andrus, brother-in-law Keith Westermann, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband, Dwight Westermann, parents, Joseph and Marie Plessel; her brothers, Roger Plessel and Larry (Gloria) Plessel.

Father Thomas Galarneault will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Dorothy: 11 AM Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City with a one hour visitation and reviewal prior. Additionally, a time of visitation and reviewal is planned from 5:00 -8:00 PM Tuesday September 8; prayer service 7:30 PM at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City. Dorothy will be interred in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery of Pine City.

Funeral arrangements for Dorothy Plessel Westermann are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel.

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