Dorothy "Dottie" J. Plager, 100, of Waterloo, IA, died on Friday, November 24, 2023, surrounded by her family at Cedar Valley Hospice Home.

Dottie was born on March 12, 1923, in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, to David and Karin Stamm Hostetter. She married Dr. Vernon Plager on September 25, 1944, and he preceded her in death on January 31, 1988.

Dottie graduated from Muskegon High School in 1939 and went on to earn her nursing degree from Harper Hospital School of Nursing in Detroit, MI. Shortly after Dottie and Dr. Plager moved to Waterloo, she joined the Junior Service League (Junior League). Dottie was instrumental in the start-up of Allen Hospital's Level II birthing center, a member Allen College of Nursing, Women's Auxiliary, and the Allen Hospital Foundation. She was past president and board member of PEO Chapter MR, the Black Hawk Medical Society Auxiliary, Cedar Valley Hospice Friends, Cancer Society Board, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Board, and Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Diplomats. Dottie founded a successful grief support group after her husband died in 1988. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School, served as a Deacon and Elder, and was a proud member of the choir for over 30 years. Dottie enjoyed traveling with her husband, playing bridge, reading, knitting, and doing her crossword puzzles.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Mae Hostetter and Margaret Peterson.

Dottie is survived by her sons, David Plager of St. Paul, MN, and Robert Plager of Waterloo; daughters, Karen Plager of Flagstaff, AZ, Kathy Nelson, and Patricia Plager, both of Waterloo; grandsons, Ryan (Cara) Kidder of Coralville, IA and Matthew (Michelle) Nelson of Denver, IA; and two great-grandchildren, Cecelia and Avery Kidder.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1301 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo. A public visitation will take place one hour prior.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice and Westminster Presbyterian Church.