Dorothy Doris Vance

Dorothy Doris Vance, age 99, of Osage, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Osage Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Osage. Dorothy was born on January 20, 1927, on the family farm near St. Ansgar, Iowa. The daughter of Ralph and Vera (Tesch) Sonberg. She attended Wardell Country School in rural St. Ansgar, IA and graduated from St. Ansgar High School.

Dorothy met Joseph Vance in October 1949 while at a dance in Osage. Being farmers the timing was right and they were married soon after on November 16, 1949, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. After marriage they lived on their farm near Little Cedar. Dorothy was a housewife while Joe farmed. Together they raised four boys, John, Paul, Roger and Melvin, on the family farm until 1971 when they retired and moved to Pasadena, CA. Following Joe’s death in 1981, Dorothy moved back to Little Cedar and eventually settled in Osage in 1984.

Dorothy enjoyed time with family and staying in touch via letters with friends and family. She spent time crocheting blankets, collecting salt and pepper shakers and tending to her houseplants including African Violets that bloomed often. Dorothy enjoyed bus trips with friends to the casinos in Minnesota to play slots.

Dorothy is survived by her sons, John, Paul and Melvin all of Osage, Roger of Mitchell; grandchildren, Rebecca Morenz (John M.) of Shelby, IA, Jeffrey Vance (Elysia) of West Salem, WI, and Thomas Vance of Minneapolis, MN, and great-grandchildren Sawyer Morenz and Sophia Vance.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Vera (Tesch) Sonberg; spouse, Joseph Vance; grandchildren, Richard Vance and Jennifer Vance; brothers Clifton, Richard, and Adrian, sisters Marie Mullenbach and Alice Chezik; parents-in-law, Otho and Eliza (Marshall) Vance; brothers-in-law Jim Vance and Alex Vance, sisters-in-law Francis Beinhauer, Margaret Young, Mary Warrington and Grace Kroneman.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Osage Cemetery.

Hoff Celebrations - Champion Chapel of Osage is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.hoffcelebrations.com.