Julius L. "Julie" Dorweiler

To view an on demand recording of Julie's funeral service please click here.

Julius L. “Julie” Dorweiler age 92 of Zimmerman, formerly of Hamel, passed away on Nov. 28, 2025.

Survived by children, David Dorweiler, Susan Dorweiler (David Vinge), Charles (Connie) Dorweiler and Jane Dorweiler (Richard Peterson); stepsons, Tony (Cara) Pence and Scott (Nicole) Pence; grandchildren, Alyssa (Alex Tuuri), Morgan, Austin (Lauren), Marissa, Collin, Jack and Amelia; great-granddaughters, Emerson and Josephine; brother, Dennis “Shorty”; sisters, Edris Guest and Donna Roehl; other relatives and dear friends.

Preceded in death by his devoted wife, Nancy; son, Tom Dorweiler; parents, Cornelius and Caroline Dorweiler.

Julie was born October 13, 1933 in Hamel MN, the eldest in the family of four children. He demonstrated leadership early, having moved from the one-room schoolhouse of his early years in Hamel to graduating with his Wayzata High School class of 1951 as class valedictorian, where he also excelled in athletics including wrestling & football, and social and service clubs in school. He developed a love of gardening, animal husbandry and horsemanship growing up on his parents’ small Hamel farm since he was 8 years old. He was also mentored in banking and community involvement by his grandfather, father, and uncle Desen Dorweiler. Aunt Harriet Dorweiler fostered in him a love of travel & adventure.

While attending St Thomas College in St Paul, he met and married Anne Williamson in 1954. He graduated with a BA in Accounting in 1955, and shortly after was employed by the Federal Department of Defense as a financial auditor, later moving to the Federal Highway Administration, from which he later retired in 1988.

During this time, he and Anne raised five children: David, Susan, Tom, Chuck and Jane.

Julie followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, father, uncle and aunt by serving on the Board of Directors of the Farmers State Bank of Hamel in 1951, ultimately rising to the Chairman of the Board. Julius had continued to serve as Chairman Emeritus until the time of his death.

He was co-founder of the Aquarius Development Corporation, a small business that built and leased business space in Hamel, and he had a long-standing part-time income tax business, conceived to help his business associates and friends in the community to get their taxes done for reasonable prices.

He also served on the Hamel Volunteer Fire Department, rose to the job of Fire Chief, and remained an active supporter until he moved to Zimmerman.

His efforts in his gardens gave him bounty, and he loved canning tomatoes, juice, picante, pickles and hot peppers, and making big batches of homemade soups.

He was one of the founding members of the Trail Dusters Saddle Club of Hamel, the Hamel SnoRunners Snowmobile club, and in early years, helped to build Hamel Dairy Days and the Hamel Street Dance, events designed to showcase the community of which he was so proud.

His love of rodeo continued beyond the time he himself would pay entry fees and compete; He provided knowledgeable commentary and a clear, pleasant voice that made him a great rodeo announcer for the rodeos of regional contractors around the five-state area for during the 1980s and 1990s.

Meanwhile, civic duties, travel adventures and leadership opportunities continued. Julie and brother Shorty were responsible for the original conception of the Hamel Rodeo as a structured and fun way to raise money for participating non-profit organizations in the area. The first rodeo was held in 1981, annually thereafter, and 45 years later, through exponential growth, has literally put Hamel on the map as the largest professional rodeo in Minnesota, and, after expenses, has plowed over 3 million dollars back into the community via these non-profit organizations.

Thanks to his Aunt Harriet, and others, travel and adventure were ingrained early in life and remained core goals throughout his lifetime. Elk hunting trips via his own pack mules in the wilderness of Colorado, Idaho & Montana, snowmobiling trips in Yellowstone and northern Minnesota, Fly-In Fishing trips into Canada, fishing trips in his own boat north from Crane Lake MN into the boundary waters, (50 miles up the loon river,) all were his bliss. He also loved inspiring others to do likewise, and brought many a neophyte into the wilderness.

Then in 1995, Julie was at Medina Ballroom for country western dancing when he met Nancy Pence. Thus began a 30-year love affair of Julie and Nancy and they were pretty inseparable from then on. Nancy embraced his interests, became an enthusiastic volunteer for the Hamel Rodeo and a willing participant in a landmark mule pack trip into the Bob Marshall wilderness in Montana, an adventure that she still referred to years later. And Nancy loved planning trips on Princess Cruise Lines to many and varied destinations. Julius became enthusiastic for that kind of travel too. Many friends accompanied them on these cruise adventures, and life was full of laughter and fun.

They both loved sharing holiday time with family and friends at “The Farm” in Hamel, and then later at “The Ranch” in Zimmerman. Nancy’s two sons, Tony (Cara) Pence and Scott (Nicole) Pence brought them grandchildren Alyssa (Alex Tuuri), Morgan, Austin (Lauren), Marissa, Collin, Jack and Amelia; great-granddaughters, Emerson and Josephine; Julius LOVED being “Grandpa Julie”, and enjoyed attending the many, many hockey games and dance recitals equally. He was so very proud of what all of the grandkids were doing and becoming.

Julius and Nancy were truly dependent on each other, and it was a rock solid, loving partnership through the years and including her battle with lung cancer. But Nancy was his North Star, and once she passed on Sept 29, 2025, everyone could see that things could never be the same for him.

Funeral service 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 6 at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel of Plymouth, 15800 37th Avenue North, Plymouth.

Visitation 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday, December 5 at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel of Plymouth and 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Saturday, prior to the service at the funeral chapel.

Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association; 2750 Blue Water Road; Ste. 250; Eagan, MN 55121 or to donate directly please click here.