Dottie grew up in St. Louis and attended Xavier Grade and High Schools and Saint Louis University. She began her career, which expanded 45 years, in the credit field in St. Louis as the head cashier at a finance company. She later worked for an O.B.GYN in Belleville, IL, and ended her career working for the Federal Government, working for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) at the Troop Support Command at St. Louis, MO, the Air Force Communications Command (AFCC) at Scott Air Force Base. She retired at the Military Airlift Command (MAC) at Scott AFB, IL.
During her career, Dottie served as President for the Federally Employed Women (FEW), Gateway Chapter; the Business and Professional Women (BPW) in Belleville, IL; Chairman and first President of Belleville Sister Cities Inc. Mayor Brauer and Dottie were the co-founders of Belleville Sister Cities Inc. and in 1990 were instrumental in establishing an International Sister City relationship between Belleville, IL and Paderborn, Germany. They received the Federal Republic of Germany Award from the German Government for their efforts. The organization remains strong and vibrant to this day. Between TDY and the Sister City Program Dottie made nine visits to Germany. During that time, her German friends helped her to visit relatives and the homes of her ancestors.
Dottie was very active in her communities. In Belleville she attended many Belle-Scott functions with her husband, the military and their spouses at Scott AFB. She was a 58 year member of the Belleville Moose Lodge. After the death of her husband Dottie moved to Jonesburg, MO. In Jonesburg she was also very active with her church, St. Patrick Catholic Church. Dottie represented St. Patrick by mailing Parish Welcome Letters to all newcomers to Jonesburg, hosted monthly bingo games at the Jonesburg Nursing Home and started the St. Patrick backpack program in support of the Jonesburg Grade School. Dottie delivered Meals on Wheels for Montgomery County and was a member of the Warrenton Elks Lodge #2662.
Preceding Dottie in death were her parents, Edwin and Agnes, nee Bothe, Rose, husband Mayor Richard Brauer and her Rose siblings, Donald (Betty), Thomas (late Ruth), twin John (late Thelma) (Carol), twin Jeanne Koechling, (late USAF Lt. Robert Birkenmeier), (late James), Robert, toddler Shirley, and Dottie’s beloved cats, Miss Kitty and Mimi.
Dottie is survived by Rose siblings: Theresa Boyet (late Gene) St. Louis, MO, Marcella Rose, St. Louis, MO., Richard (Shirley) New Florence, MO and her beloved cat, BB. Also her Brauer In-Laws: Marilyn Ackerman (late Donald) Belleville, Betty Brauer (late Bill) Smithton, Il and Sisters-in-law: Audrey (late Charles) Neptune City, N.J., Carol (late Donald) Belleville, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO, or to St. Patrick Catholic Church Endowment Fund, Jonesburg, MO. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
As she wished, Dottie was cremated and will be laid to rest with her husband in the Walnut Hill Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 509 First St., Jonesburg, MO 63351. A celebration of life mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., immediately following the visitation.
Dottie will also be remembered by her many Illinois friends and family from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023, at George Renner and Son’s Funeral Home, Belleville, IL. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m., immediately following the visitation.