Dorothy Marcella Wendler, age 99, of West Concord, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The youngest of eight children, Dorothy was born on December 14, 1925, to the late Henry and Augusta (DeCoyer) Van Den Hemel in Madison, SD. Growing up, the family was farming until moving into town, where Dorothy would find part-time work. In 1944, Dorothy moved to the West Concord area when her sister, Irene, had invited her to meet a young man. Unknown to her, Dorothy would be meeting her husband, William Lambert, and they would marry that year in Claremont at St. Francis De Salle Church. The couple lived on William’s generational family farm, raising their six children along with the everyday work of dairy cattle and hogs. After William’s accident, Dorothy would care for her husband for 13 years until his passing in 1967.
In 1970, Dorothy married a long-time friend, Allen Wendler, in Austin at Queen of Angel’s Catholic Church. Together they would travel for Allen’s World War II military reunions, visiting different states. When Dorothy moved into West Concord, she would find work at Fold Craft in Kenyon, building tables and chairs for the factory until her retirement.
Dorothy is the last member that was involved with starting and forming St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in West Concord. A devoted member, she was involved with the Council of Catholic Women and loved spending time in her church. Dorothy was also a former member of the West Concord American Legion Auxiliary, having devoted her time and hours to the organization. During her life, Dorothy was a homemaker, her children remembering her baking numerous loaves of bread every Monday, the smell always in their memories. She also had a patience of herself, having enjoyed embroidery, gardening, and canning, which she would spend many hours doing.
Dorothy is survived by three children: Barb (Jim) May of Adams, MN, Dianna (Roger) Jax of Rose Creek, MN, and Bill (Judy) Lambert of West Concord; 20 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Bette Lambert; son-in-law, Keith Fabian; brother-in-law, Eugene Wendler; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, William Lambert and Allen Wendler; two daughters, Marilyn Lambert and Julie Fabian; son, Dan Lambert; her sisters: Irene (Bernard Meyer and Glen) Olson, Margaret (Adolph) Oines, and Loretta (William) Bowman; brothers, Arnold (Regina) and Bernard; two half-brothers, Achille (Cecilia) and Marcel (Margaret); and her numerous in-laws.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 9, 2025, at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in West Concord. A visitation was held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at the Michaelson Funeral Home in West Concord. An additional visitation was held from 10:00 AM until the time of Mass. Dorothy was laid to rest at the St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Cemetery with a luncheon following at the West Concord American Legion.
