Nancy P. Dorweiler

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Nancy (Gripp) Dorweiler, age 77, of Zimmerman, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2025, with her husband, Julie, by her side.

Nancy was born in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, in 1948 to Richard and Miriam Gripp and grew up in Minneapolis with her sister, Kathy. She graduated from North High School in 1966 and remained close with many classmates throughout her life. Soon after, she married John Pence and moved to Maryland while John served in the U.S. Navy. In 1971, they welcomed their first son, Anthony, and returned to Minnesota, settling in Crystal, where their second son, Scott, was born in 1974.

Nancy held several early positions in Washington D.C. and Minnesota before beginning her career as a key punch operator at Schweigert Meats. It was there she formed lifelong friendships that expanded her friend group and eventually grew into the beloved “pizza night” group. She later worked at Delta Dental before joining General Mills, where she retired after a fulfilling 25-year career.

In 1994, Nancy met Julius “Julie” Dorweiler during a night of line dancing with her sister Kathy. After several years together, they married in 2001. Nancy wholeheartedly embraced Julie’s passions -- joining the Hamel Rodeo committee, taking trips to the mountains, and attending the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Together they discovered their love of cruising, embarking on 11 trips to destinations such as Alaska, the Caribbean, Central America, Hawaii, and the Northeast United States. Alaska remained their favorite, and they returned several times.

After they married, Nancy and Julie moved to a hobby farm in Zimmerman, affectionately known as “the Ranch,” where they built their forever home. Nancy thrived on hosting family and friends, especially during Christmas. Her traditions included wrapping gifts in her signature snowflake paper, hiding snowflakes for the children to find, and gathering everyone for a lively game of left-right-center—always providing the quarters herself.

One of her greatest joys came with the arrival of her grandchildren after both Tony and Scott married in 2005. Nancy loved being a grandmother and attended every dance recital, hockey game, school event, and celebration she could. She was one of her grandchildren’s most devoted supporters, always present with encouragement and love.

Nancy’s kindness, warmth, and devotion to family and friends touched everyone who knew her. She was loved deeply and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by husband, Julius; children, Tony (Cara) Pence, Scott (Nicole) Pence; stepchildren, David Dorweiler, Susan Dorweiler (David Vinge), Charles (Connie) Dorweiler, Jane Dorweiler (Richard Peterson); grandchildren, Alyssa (Alex), Morgan, Austin (Lauren), Marissa, Collin, Jack, and Amelia; great-granddaughters, Emerson and Josephine; niece, Nicole Quiles; great nephews, Sebastian, and Benjamin Quiles; other relatives and friends.

Nancy was preceded in death by mother, Miriam Gripp; father, Richard Gripp; sister, Kathleen Proulx; stepson, Tom Dorweiler.

Funeral Saturday, October 4, 2025, 11 AM at Gearty-Delmore Plymouth Chapel, 15800 37th Ave. N. Visitation Friday, October 3, 2025 5-8 PM and one hour before the service, all at the funeral chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society.