Lifelong resident of Council Bluffs, passed away February 5, 2020 in Council Bluffs at CHI Mercy Hospital.

Born November 8, 1922 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs to the late George and Leona (Hotchkiss) Steppuhn. Dorothy was the owner of Dot Real Estate, Inc. from 1961 to 2009 and owner of Capel Apartments. She started her real estate business in 1961. Prior to that, beginning in 1948, she worked in the family-owned construction company. Dot was active in the local, state and national Realtors Association. She was president of the local in 1978 and Realtor of the Year in 1980. Dot served as head of the Multiple Listing Service (M.L.S.) as was active on the state level, serving on the legislative committee, professional standards committee and the board of directors. Dot was a member of New Horizon Presbyterian Church, formerly Grace Presbyterian, where she sang in the choir and was active in the Mariners. Before that, she belonged to Bethany Church and taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and supervised several Vacation Bible Schools. Dorothy attended a two-room grade school with eight grades at Lewis #2, off of what is now Valley View Drive. She walked to and from school, one mile each way, on a dirt road. Dorothy graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1941. As a junior and senior, she was named to the National Honor Society. Later in life, she belonged to Business and Professional Women and was active in the Pearl harbor Survivors Association. She was a member of the D.O.E.S. (Elks), American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries. Dot served on the Casino Committee and the Rental Housing Committee and was a Brownie Troop leader. She always loved Council Bluffs. Her husbands and family always came first. She loved to travel throughout the continental United States and Hawaii.

Dot was preceded in death by her parents; two wonderful husbands-Thomas H. Capel (1922-1986) and Lindley W. Burleigh (1921-2011); two sons, Thomas, and a new born son; sister, Mildred L. Slawson; brother, Robert Steppuhn and stepson, James Burleigh.

She is survived by three sons, Robert B. (Julie) Frieze, of Hallandale, Florida, Timothy J. (Christi) Capel, Philip E. (Beth) Capel, all of Council Bluffs; two daughters, Karen S. Russell, of Council Bluffs, Georgia (Francis) Gangle, of North Carolina; 19 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; stepdaughter, Linda Burleigh, of San Diego, California; 3 step-grandsons; 2 step-great-grandsons; as well as numerous nephews; nieces; close friends and many other people she knew and loved.

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