Dorothy Marie Andreesen, devoted wife, mother and loving grandmother and friend of Ord, Nebraska passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Valley County Health System Hospital in Ord at the age of 93.
Born on January 2, 1933, in rural Wymore, Nebraska, Dorothy was the daughter of Reiner and Frieda Zimmerman. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Barneston, Nebraska. Dorothy graduated from high school in Barneston, Nebraska, in 1950 and began her career working at both the Production and Marketing Office in Beatrice and the Gage County Register of Deed Office.
On June 1, 1952, she married Frank M. Andreesen at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Barneston, Nebraska. The couple lived in Lincoln, where Dorothy worked as a receptionist in Agronomy at the Kellogg Center at UNL, while Frank completed his studies at UNL. In 1953, they moved to Taylor, Nebraska, where Dorothy played a crucial role in reopening the Taylor Library, serving as a librarian until 1966. During this time, they welcomed their children, James and Andrea.
In 1966, the family settled in Ord, where Frank continued his teaching career. In 1979, Dorothy and Frank purchased John Jewelry Store, which they ran as Andreesen Jewelry for 20 years. After retiring, Dorothy contributed her time to Moyer’s Department Store and was instrumental in establishing the Valley County Hospital Auxiliary and the Second Hand Rose Thrift Shop; donating many hours of work for 19 years.
Dorothy was an active member of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Ord Rotary Club, and the Valley County Historical Society. She also participated in the Nebraska and South Dakota Jewelry Associations and held leadership roles, including President of the Ord Chamber of Commerce and as a board member at Grandview Assisted and Independent Living Center. Dorothy was an avid Husker Sports fan.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, James “Jim” and Sara Andreesen of Ord; and their family, grandson, Nathan and Nicole Andreesen, grandchildren, Easton and Myles, granddaughter, Bailey and Jared McCoskey, great grandchildren, Quinn and Eve; a daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Steven Liekhus of Dodge; their family, grandson, Kelly and Christina Liekhus, great grandchildren, Isabelle and Brant Liekhus, granddaughter, Stephanie Liekhus and Sebastian Florezyk, granddaughter, Cassandra and Parker Mezilus, great granddaughter, Mia.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 60 years, Frank; a sister, Mabel Pruser and a brother, Elton Zimmerman.
Dorothy asks for her family and friends to celebrate her going home as she is welcomed into the presence of her Lord and Savior. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.
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