Sister Dorothy Niemann

Sister Dorothy Niemann, a Sister of Mercy of the Holy Cross, age 82, died February 23, 2026, at Bell Tower Residence in Merrill, Wisconsin.

Dorothy M. Niemann was born November 8, 1943, in Breese, Illinois, to John and Annie (Wolters) Niemann. She entered Holy Cross Convent in Merrill, Wisconsin, on August 12, 1962, and professed her vows on August 22, 1964. Sister Dorothy was in her 62nd year of ministry at the time of her death.

She attended Mater Dei High School, Breese, Illinois, graduating in 1961. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1968 from Alverno College, Milwaukee. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree in 1977 from Catholic University in Washington, DC. In 2001 she completed one year of Clinical Pastoral Education Residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Sister Dorothy served as a nurse at Holy Cross Hospital in Merrill WI for seven years and at St Joseph’s Hospital and Health Center in Dickinson, North Dakota for eight years. She was a charter member of Heartland Hospice. She served as a nurse educator at Dickinson State University in Dickinson, North Dakota from 1985 to 1999. While teaching she also served as a parish nurse at St Wenceslaus parish in Dickinson.

Following her Clinical Pastoral Education, she served as Director of Pastoral Care at St. Joseph Hospital in Breese, Illinois for twelve years. In 2013 she moved to Merrill Wisconsin and served as a chaplain at Bell Tower Residence until 2017.

Sister Dorothy has also served the Holy Cross Sisters as a Provincial Councilor several times and as a trustee of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross Community Support Charitable Trust.

She played guitar and enjoyed singing in choirs. She was an avid reader. Other pastime activities included walking outdoors and line dancing.

After her diagnosis of lung cancer, she had surgery in 2020 and in 2023 started 1 ½ years of various treatments, then chose to discontinue treatment for a better quality of life and entered hospice.

Preceding her in death are her parents John and Annie, her sister, Betty, and spouse, Paul Bruns.

She is survived by her family of Holy Cross Sisters and associates, as well as her sisters, Dolores (Ted) Richter of St Rose, IL, Marge (Henry) Schaefer of Atlanta, MO and brother, John (Karen) Niemann of Breese IL and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

The Holy Cross Sisters would like to thank Interim Healthcare Hospice Team and Caregivers, Bell Tower Staff and the Holy Cross Sisters’ Companions for their care, compassion and support that was shown to Sister Dorothy.

A Funeral Mass for Sister will be held at 11:00 am on March 4, 2026, at Holy Cross Chapel in Bell Tower Residence. Father Charles Hoffmann will officiate. Visitation will be held at 10:00 am until time of the liturgy. Burial will follow in the St Francis Catholic Cemetery, Merrill, WI.

For those unable to attend the Funeral Mass for Sister Dorothy, it will be live streamed and available to watch under her obituary on the funeral home’s website on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. and then will be posted for future viewing.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation Services of Merrill is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com.