Dorothy Helen (Karch) Ostrowski passed away on May 28, 2019, at age 98, after four days in the Iola Nursing Facility. She was born on December 25, 1920, in New Hope to the late Thomas and Julia (Koziczkowski) Karch. She graduated from Emerson High School in Stevens Point. During WWII, Dorothy served in the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps from 1944 to 1946 as a pharmacist’s mate based in San Francisco. After her service, she worked and met Chester Ostrowski. They married in 1951 and built a beautiful home in the Milwaukee area where Dorothy was an avid gardener. The family moved to Scandinavia WI in 1961.

Dorothy was a homemaker, parent and ran the Scandinavia Hardware and Washbasket coin laundry with her husband. After Chester passed away in 1996, she officially retired but kept very busy. Until recently she had a fitness routine that included aqua exercise and weight machines. She was an active volunteer for the Waupaca Lioness Club and made friends easily. Dorothy had a good sense of humor and shared her passion for nature, art and music with her children. She always had plants growing inside and out; from asparagus at home to tomatoes at Park Vista Independent Living where she lived for the last six years. A newspaper subscriber to the end, she looked forward to solving the word jumble in every edition. Dorothy was a member of Sodality and a devoted Catholic with a decades-long membership at St. Mary Magdalene. After losing her mother at age 12, one of her most significant relationships was with her sister, Evelyn, who passed away last year at 100 years old.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; brothers John, Stanley and Leonard Karch; and sister, Evelyn Pionkowski. Dorothy is survived by her sons; Thomas (Diane) of Luxemburg WI, David (Sharon) of Deerwood, MN, and Daniel (Diane Pearson) of Minneapolis MN; daughters Barbara Gasterland (Hans) and Judy Ostrowski both of Minneapolis MN; grandchildren Michael Ostrowski and Carol Deming (Nick); and great-grandchildren Eleanor and Audrey Deming, along with many loved nieces and nephews.

Friends and family are welcome to attend the visitation on Sunday, June 9, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Holly and Sons Funeral Home, 526 South Main Street, Waupaca, WI, 54981. There will be a rosary service from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Additional visitation at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, N2845 Shadow Road, Waupaca, on Monday, June 10, from 10:00 to 11:00 am followed by the 11:00 am funeral service. The service will be officiated by Fr. Xavier Santiago, followed by burial in the parish cemetery in Waupaca. Following the burial there will be a light lunch in the St. Mary Magdalene Church fellowship hall. There will also be a celebration of Dorothy’s life in the Twin Cities in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorothy’s name to Waupaca Senior Center and Waupaca Lions club are welcome and appreciated.