Dorothy Mae Necker

Dorothy Mae Necker, 92, of DeWitt, Iowa, passed away Saturday afternoon, January 6, 2018, at Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt.

The family will greet friends at a visitation in the Gathering Space at St. Joseph Catholic Church, DeWitt from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 12, 2018, with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2018, in the church with the Rev. Fr. H. Robert Harness officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dan Condon, Jon Billhorn and Baird Smith.

Dorothy was born in 1925 to the late Henry J. and Elizabeth (Clemen) Ungs in Holy Cross.  She attended Holy Cross School and graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy (an all girl school) at Dubuque.  Dorothy attended Dubuque School of Cosmetology and following graduation was asked to teach theory and instruct classes which she did for seven years.

She married Donald A. Necker of Dyersville on June 14, 1952. They had a double wedding ceremony with her sister Mary Kay and brother-in-law Cy. Shortly after they were married, they had the opportunity to purchase Brumer Jewelers in DeWitt which they renamed Necker’s Jewelers. In 1970, Dorothy started the first Cards N’ Things store in DeWitt and in 1979 opened another Hallmark store in Milan, Illinois. A third Hallmark store was opened in Bettendorf in 1991. The name was changed to Dot’s Hallmark in 1991 and she was active in all of them.

Dorothy was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, DeWitt, the DeWitt Hospital Auxiliary and Springbrook Country Club. In 2016, the Iowa Women’s Foundation honored Dorothy as an influential woman in the State of Iowa.  Don and Dorothy had many good trips with special friends to Mexico and enjoyed traveling to many places and countries until Don’s death in 1989. She continued traveling with her best friend Patsy Condon. Dorothy loved to entertain and celebrate with her children, their spouses and her grandchildren and great-grandson, of whom she all loved dearly. Family dinners, holidays and birthdays were always made special.

She is survived by five children, Dee Ann (Don) Kearney of DeWitt, Dan (Julie) Necker of Austin, Texas, Douglas Necker of Bettendorf, David (Amy) Necker of DeWitt and DJ (Tracie) Necker of Bettendorf; grandchildren, Jenna (Ben) Krieger, Cara Kearney, Eric and Danielle Necker, Adrienne and Julia Necker, Alexandria, Savannah and Easton Necker and Grace, Sam, Grant and Cameron Necker; a great-grandson, Theo Krieger; a step-granddaughter, Sarah (Jeff) Lovill; step-grandchildren, Alexandra, Anthony, Sydney and Kolby; a sister, Betty Heiring of Marshfield, Wisconsin; brothers-in-law, Robert (Vi) Necker, John Necker and David (Doris) Necker; and many nieces and nephews.

Also preceding Dorothy were a sister, Mary Kay; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Cy Lampe, Gerald Heiring, Neil Necker, Ray and Betty Thomas, Darlene Necker and Patty Necker.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be designated to St. Joseph School or toward a purchase of a lift chair for Genesis Medical Center.

Condolences may be expressed and a photo tribute viewed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.

Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt is caring for the arrangements.