Here are the words of Dorothy’s son, Allyn Lepeska, as he presented the first scholarship in her memory at Iowa-Grant on May 13^th 2015. The Dorothy Lepeska Memorial Scholarship is intended for those students with an interest in English and Journalism.

“My mother, Dorothy Lepeska, grew up on the south side of Milwaukee. She worked her way thru Marquette University with a little help from the school. Upon graduation, she came to Montfort to teach English and Latin in 1942, a year after Pearl Harbor and a year U-Boats were at our shores. She had no car, no driver’s license, no connections and probably no money. She was an optimist. Shortly thereafter she met a local farmer and they were married the next year. She moved to a farm with no indoor plumbing and a number of in-laws.

Her six children graduated from Iowa-Grant. She taught at Iowa-Grant. Some of her grandchildren graduated from Iowa-Grant. Two of her granddaughters teach at Iowa-Grant and some of her great-grandchildren go to Iowa-Grant. She did have an Iowa-Grant connection.

All her children and grandchildren attended college. She attended at least 20 college graduations at more than a dozen different campuses. She never wanted to miss a party. Dorothy Lepeska believed in education and proper English. However she never pushed her children but we always had books, magazines and newspapers in the home. We learned by her example.

As this year’s (2015) national Teacher of the year, who is a Texas English teacher, said, “a teacher can help write the rest of the story.” So as my mother helped write the rest of the story for her family and students, her family hopes that this scholarship may help write the rest of the story for some Iowa-Grant graduates who have an interest in English and Journalism.”

Dorothy Lepeska March 30, 1920 – Oct 31, 2014

Beloved mother, granny and friend, Dorothy Dorszynski Lepeska passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Friday Oct. 31, 2014. Born March 30, 1920, to Marie (Chmielewski) and Joseph Dorszynski, Dorothy spent her young years living above her parents’ drug store on Mitchell Street in Milwaukee. She attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School, South Division High School and graduated from Marquette University with majors in Latin, English and journalism in 1942. She worked for the Burlington Press the summer of 1942 and started teaching at Montfort High School that fall.

Dorothy met Joseph Lepeska, a farmer, at St. Thomas Church, and by Christmas they were engaged. They married Oct. 16, 1943, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Milwaukee.

Dorothy generously gave her time and talents to her family and touched the lives of many others. In addition to being a full-time farm wife and mother, she volunteered, gardened, baked, canned and was very active at church.

In 1961, she returned to teaching at Iowa-Grant High School and Southwest Technical College. Dorothy volunteered with her parish, church, the Wisconsin Women in Agriculture and the Madison Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW), including as President and long-time newsletter editor. For decades, Dorothy was a correspondent for the Catholic Herald.

Adventurous and active, Dorothy travelled extensively, including Europe and Australia. She regularly attended the diocesan and National Council of Catholic Women conventions. She was proud of attending graduations and weddings of her grandchildren, dancing at each wedding. Until age 90, Dorothy lived on the family dairy farm near Montfort.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Joseph in 1992, son David in 1979, and three brothers; Joseph, Richard, and Donald. She is survived by five children: Allyn (Ellen Fitzsimmons), Dallas, Texas; James (Linda), Montfort; Mary Frances (Patrick Tearney), Port Washington, Wis.; Jane Grinde (Jon), Madison, Wis.; and Betty Anne Bittner (Mark), Two Rivers, Wis. She has 18 grandchildren: Heather Lepeska (Steven Price); Molly Lepeska (Greg Clampffer), Joshua Lepeska; Erika Kelley (Michael), Kristen (Brent Nelson), Ryan Lepeska; Lisa (Rob Edge), Paul Havlik (Traci), Mike Havlik (Tammy); Caitlin Tearney (Brett Melin), Connor Tearney; Gabrielle Grinde (Andy Schilling), Johanne Grinde (Carlos Caamal), Anna (John Stoltenberg), Jonathan Grinde; Nathan Bittner (Blaire), Erin Bittner (Brian Field), Ross Bittner; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to nieces Joan and Ann and the wonderful and caring staff of Willow Pointe and Home Health.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday Nov. 3, 2014 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Montfort with burial to follow in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4:00- 8:00 P.M. on Sunday Nov. 2, 2014 at the Soman-Larson Funeral Home in Montfort where a parish prayer service will be held at 8:00 P.M. on Sunday evening In lieu of plants and flowers, a memorial fund is being established in loving memory of Dorothy Lepeska.