Cecelia "Cel" Barbara Jennewein

Cecelia “Cel” Barbara Jennewein of Minneapolis passed away peacefully on November 22, 2025 at the age of 85.

Cel was born on July 27, 1940 in Brookings, South Dakota.  She was the oldest child of Everett and Stella (Carnicle) Jennewein.   Cel is survived by her children John F. Dahlmeier, Julie Erickson and husband Darin, David Dahlmeier and wife Suzy and Katy Matvey and husband David, her grandchildren Jack, Owen, Elizabeth Erickson, Maggie and Nicholas Matvey.  She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers John Jennewein and Leo Jennewein.

Cel graduated from Huron High School in Huron, South Dakota.  She received a B.S. degree in nursing in 1962 from South Dakota State University.  Following graduation, she attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1964 with a Master of Science in nursing.

While at the University of Minnesota, Cel met, and then married, John H. Dahlmeier and they raised four children together.  After raising their children for several years, Cel taught psychiatric nursing at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul before moving back to clinical work.  She was the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis until her retirement.  Following her retirement, she enjoyed volunteering at the Piper Breast Center at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Cel was a beloved mother, grandmother, friend, educator, and mentor who will be dearly missed. She was patient, thoughtful, and generous; she was always available for guidance and support. She seemed to know what people needed and offered help selflessly. She guided with a belief that “people are doing the very best they can with what they have” and encouraged her four teenage children in the 1980’s with a mantra of “choices and consequences”.  She was a proud grandmother, who helped to raise her grandchildren in Minneapolis, and never missed a Grandfriend’s Day with her grandchildren when they lived in Charlotte.

She was fiercely independent, moving into a condominium in Minneapolis and thriving in the city for 20 years. She was sharp, witty, and a trailblazer in her time. She was an original subscriber to Ms. Magazine and had strong political views which included having her kids do literature drops for candidates she supported. She was an avid sports fan who had her own subscription to Sports Illustrated from the time she was in college. She especially loved the rise of women’s professional sports during her lifetime and was thrilled to see the MN Lynx win the National Championship (four times).

Cel valued social connections and maintained friendships for decades. She was busy visiting with friends from high school, college, work, and the neighborhood in New Hope. Her friends loved that she was both a good story-teller and listener, and admired her elegant sense of style. Cel loved hosting dinner parties, gatherings, and celebrations. She was an excellent cook and willing to try new recipes.  Everyone looked forward to her annual gift of homemade Christmas candies.

While Alzheimer’s slowly eroded her mind and body, Cel remained kind, stylish, and always had her beautiful smile. We are terribly saddened that she was robbed of her plan to live to 100 and dance at her grandchildren’s weddings. We take comfort in the memories of love, care, and compassion that she shared generously throughout her life, and in believing that her spirit remains with all who knew her.

In keeping with her lifelong commitment to teaching, Cel made the decision to donate her body to the anatomy bequest program at the University of Minnesota.  She hoped to be of use, even after death, to training future medical providers and researchers.

A celebration of Cel’s life will be held at a date to be announced by her family.  Cel loved to host gatherings and enjoyed good food, good drinks (especially her signature sweet Rob Roy cocktail) and chocolate and she will be celebrated in that honor.

Her family thanks the staff at Village Shores in Richfield, MN and Minnesota Hospice for the outstanding care Cel received. Everyone truly cared about her, treated her respectfully, and ensured that she maintained her dignity.

Memorials preferred to Piper Breast Center or the Alzheimer’s Association.