Dorine Joyce Sloan

Although Dorine Joyce (Schulz) Sloan was not at Plainview’s incorporation in 1857, she was tied to our community since her birth (October 16, 1929) on the home farm east of town to Edwin and Jeannetta (Hostetler) Schulz. Her life was devoted to her family and Plainview activities until her passing on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Green Prairie Rehabilitation Center in Plainview.

Dorine grew from that small farm. Her mother taught the homemaking essentials of the time: sewing, cooking, baking, cleaning, raising kids, love of the Bible, and hosting friends and family. She gained her formal education at the French Country School, Immanuel Lutheran School, and graduating with Plainview High School’s 1947 class. After graduation, she served as a bookkeeper at the Plainview Creamery for many years.

At a church picnic in the summer of 1952, she met the love of her life, John B. Sloan, Jr. He spent weekends courting Dorine while working as a milk test supervisor in the area. After a trip to California with a girlfriend, Dorine and John married at Immanuel on September 3, 1953. Together, our Lord blessed them with five boys growing up on two farms in Plainview. The original farmstead was located on the east end of town and the current farm was purchased in 1963. They grew a diversified farm including corn, soybeans, sweet corn, peas, alfalfa, wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, dairy, pigs, chickens, and beef. With their family vision of supporting farming, agriculture, and community, they were honored as the 1987 Minnesota Outstanding Farm Family of Year in Wabasha County.

Supporting her community and the next generation, Dorine volunteered continually supporting Plainview, P-E-M, and Minnesota FFA along with being a leader for the Happy Ramblers and Wabasha County 4-H. She exhibited at the Wabasha County Fair as a little girl and into her 90’s.  She hadn’t missed attending the county fair until the 2020 pandemic.

Dorine drove, provided emergency sewing, and encouraged numerous dairy princesses for the American Dairy Association in Wabasha County and at the Minnesota State Fair. With a love of listening, she attended Plainview’s music programs from the packed elementary performances to the high school banana split concerts with a constant smile. She dove into family history and sponsored/shared at the Plainview Historical Society.

Family and friends were always welcomed by Dorine with lunch, afternoon lemonade and cookies, harvest meals, or “just a snack before you go.”  Her lemon poppyseed cakes, mint brownies, and coffee cakes were always readily provided for church auctions, funerals, and other occasions. Although baking was a favorite, she devoted countless hours to quilting on her own and with the ILCW quilting ladies. When she couldn’t do it anymore, she still had seven totes of quilting materials that she wanted to work on. Each of her children and grandchildren along with numerous others near and overseas received the benefit of her hands through those quilts.

She touched many lives as a leader of the Immanuel Lutheran Church Women (ILCW) for decades serving at clothing drives, fundraisers, church auctions, harvest-fests, and funerals. She enjoyed the fragrance and beauty of flower gardens, learning about the Bible, and listening to children. She heard about their lives and inspired many youth through Sunday school teaching, release time religious leader and church sponsorships.

She is survived by four of her sons: Darvey of Plainview, Joel of Mabel, Robert of Plainview, and Gary (Donna) of Lake Elmo. Seven grandchildren: Matthew (Molly) Sloan, Carlena (Patrick) Gallagher, Chelsey Sloan, Nicholas Sloan, Jacquelyn Sloan, Dena (Chris Graf) Sloan, and Teagan Sloan. Seven great grandchildren, brother Duane Schulz of Plainview, sister Marilyn (Robert) Mann of Buchanon, MI, brother-in-law Lyle Wehrs of Plainview, and sister-in-law Donna Sloan of Hokah, and many nephews and nieces.

Preceded in death by her husband and parents, son – Jerry John, brother Harlan Schulz, sisters-in-law – Dorothy Schulz, Eileen Sloan, Joan Schulz, Mary Wehrs, and Valrie Sloan, and brothers-in-law Ernie Sloan, Glenn Sloan, and Lynn Sloan.

Funeral service is Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plainview with Pastor Phil Augustine officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Plainview. The visitation is Monday, March 25th, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Schad & Zabel Funeral Home in Plainview and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, PEM Sloan Scholarship Fund, Minnesota FFA Foundation, or Donor's preference.

Schad & Zabel Funeral Home in Plainview is assisting with the arrangements.

Her favorite song 

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