Dorothy Catherine Lofgren

Dorothy Lofgren, 90, went to meet her Lord on Thursday, February 20, 2014, at Charter House in Rochester, MN. Dorothy Catherine Schneider was born December 23, 1923, at home in Detroit, MI, to Herman and Elizabeth Katherine (nee Shettenhelm) Schneider.Dorothy was the second youngest of 11 children born to the Schneiders. Dorothy Lofgren worked at J. L. Hudson in Detroit, MI, while taking secretarial classes.She then worked at the U.S. Marine Hospital, Detroit, MI, as a medical secretary where she met the love of her life, Eric P. Lofgren, M.D., who was interning for the U.S. Public Health Service from 1945-1947.She married Eric on May 24, 1947, in Detroit, MI.They lived in Marshfield, WI, while Eric began a residency.In 1948, they moved to Rockford, IL, where Eric practiced general medicine.In 1951, they moved to Rochester, MN, where Eric began a surgical residency at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and Dorothy worked as a medical secretary for Dr. Phillip S. Hench.In 1954, after Eric received his M.S. degree in surgery from the University of Minnesota, the Lofgrens served at the Lutheran Mission Hospital in Nigeria until 1958.They then returned to Rockford.In 1960, they adopted their daughter, Lisa, and a year later they adopted their son, Paul. They remained in Rockford until Eric accepted a position as consultant in surgery at Mayo Clinic in 1964. Dorothy attended school at Rochester Junior College where she graduated Phi Theta Kappa National Honorary Scholastic Society, and received a B.S. at Rockford College in Rockford, IL.She received an equivalent of an M.S. in voice studying with Bernard Taylor at the Julliard School of Music and continued studying voice at Luther College in Decorah, IA.She belonged to the Alice Mayo Society.Dorothy was a co-founder of Taste of the Town for the Salvation Army and volunteered at the Salvation Army for many years.She attended Trinity Lutheran Church from 1951-1954 and from 1964 until her death where she directed the children's choir, sang in the adult choir, and taught Sunday school.Dorothy also worked as a soloist for Ranfranz Funeral Home and Trinity Lutheran Church. As well as being a medical secretary, Dorothy sang.As a child, she sang on her dad's farm and continued singing her whole life.Dorothy loved to sing. Dorothy loved the Lord.Dorothy loved her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her parents, and her siblings. She enjoyed spending time with her family.She loved sewing, reading, music, collecting cook books, and being by the water, especially the Mississippi River. Survivors include one daughter, Elisabeth Katherine Lofgren (Harry Center) of Rochester; one son, Paul Hokan (Teri Riess) Lofgren of Brooklyn Park, MN; four grandchildren - Jordan, Ryan, Kaitlin, and Drew; her brother, Herman (Rosemary) Schneider, of Warren, MI; and many nieces and nephews. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Eric, her parents, three sisters, and six brothers. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 25, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home from 5:30-8:00 P.M.A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 222 - 6th Ave SW, Rochester, with the Reverend Joel Haak officiating. Burial will be at a private ceremony on Tuesday morning at Oakwood Cemetery.Memorials are requested to Trinity Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Hour Ministries, or the Salvation Army.