Dorothy J. Bral, age 85, of Marengo, Iowa, died Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at the Marengo Memorial Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 A.M. Friday, December 2, 2011, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Marengo with Fr. Joseph Roost officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Marengo. Visitation: 4 to 8 P.M. Thursday, December 1, 2011, Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo with a Scripture Service at 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers memorials may be contributed to the Marengo Memorial Hospital.
Dorothy is survived by her husband Leroy; four children, Barbara Roggentien (Mike), Richard Bral (Conna), David Bral (Juli) all of Marengo and Catherine Horgan (Stephen) of Atlanta, GA; 11 grandchildren, Tascha Naber (Kirk) of Overland Park, KS, Traci Nandi (Partha) of New York City, NY, Toby Bral (Kristen) of Marengo, Robert Roggentien (Lindsey) of San Francisco, CA, Nicholas Bral of Marengo, Christina Roggentien of San Diego, CA, Cale Bral of Marengo, and Riley, Kathleen, Connor and Brendan Horgan of Atlanta, GA; five great-grandchildren, Lauren and Cameron Naber of Overland Park, Owen and Derek Bral of Marengo, and Jayden Nandi of New York City, NY. Also surviving are her siblings, Richard Kelly (Barb) and Patricia Johnson (Fred Krysel) all of Nisswa, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Dorothy J. Kelly was born June 18, 1926 in Blairstown, Iowa, the daughter of Leo and Mildred Schafbuch Kelly. She attended the Blairstown schools and graduated from Mount Mercy College in 1947 with a degree in Business. She moved to Chicago where she worked for International Harvester and the 3M Corporation. She returned to Marengo and was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper for her father at Leo Kelly Company. Dorothy married Leroy R. Bral on October 14, 1950 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Blairstown, Iowa. The couple recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. Dorothy worked as a court- martial reporter for the U.S. Air Force during her husband’s military service. She continued this employment when they were stationed in Germany. After raising her family, Dorothy began a career with the Department of Transportation, retiring in 1988.
Dorothy loved writing poetry, and family members looked forward to her annual Christmas letters. She enjoyed reading and traveling to see family and friends, but also liked visiting with them on the phone. Dorothy was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Marengo, the Altar and Rosary Society, the American Legion Auxiliary, and several bridge and card clubs. |
