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Davis, Dorothy B. (Whalen) 1926-2006

WHALEN, DANAHER, HANSON, CONNOR, KENOW, DAVIS, BURKE, MAUSS, ZOLL, LARSON, SCHWARTZ, MCDOWELL, POPE, BAUMGARTEN, BIEBER, QUILLIN, LUTHER, REGAN, WELSH

Posted By: Diana Henry Diedrich (email)
Date: 1/13/2007 at 08:50:02

Dorothy Davis, age 80, of Waukon, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006 at Northgate Care Center after a brief illness.

A wake was held Friday, Dec. 29. The family wishes to thank all who stood in line to express their condolences and share memories of Dorothy. The funeral was held Saturday, Dec. 30 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Fr. Joseph Schneider and Msr. Ed Lechtenberg officiating.

Burial was at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Lycurgus. Nieces Eileen Curtin and Linda Burke, and nephews Brad Whalen, John Whalen, Bill Mauss, and Joe Whalen served as pallbearers.

Readers were nephew Matt Whalen and friend Erin Berns. Servers were Ray Whalen, Sam Schwartz, and pen pal Lexi Bieber. Gift bearers were friends Marcie Quillin and Frannie Luther. The organist was Mary Regan and singers were niece Rita Whalen and the adult church choir. Arrangements were handled by Hanson Funeral Home.

The family requests that anyone wishing to memorialize Dorothy send their donations in the name of "Dorothy Davis Memorial Fund" to St. Mary's Church Lycurgus Cemetery Fund, c/o Bernard Welsh, 864 Pioneer Dr., Waukon or to the St. Patrick's School at 200 2nd St. SW, Waukon, IA, 52172.

Dorothy Bernadine (Whalen) was born May 20, 1926 in rural Waukon to William and Agnes (Danaher) Whalen. After graduation from Waukon High School in 1944 she moved to Waterloo where she worked at Black's Tea Room. She married Howard Davis in 1949 and had four children, Bekki Davis of LaCrosse, WI, Patty (Dan) Hanson of Stewartville, MN, Carmen (Tim) Connor of Madison, WI, and Ruth (Kevin) Kenow of Onalaska, WI.

Upon her return to Waukon in 1957, Dorothy worked at Graham's Clothing Store and other businesses. She was one of the first employees hired at Northern Engraving as a punch operator in 1969. After retiring from Northern Engraving in 1995, she found time to volunteer at St. Patrick's School and Parish and throughout the community. In 2004 she received an award from St. Patrick's School for her outstanding service to the community and to the parish of St. Patrick's in particular.

Dorothy volunteered as an aide at St. Patrick's School and developed many close relationships with the children there. She distributed communion to people in their homes and at the Northgate Care Center, Good Samaritan, and Veterans Memorial Hospital, leading the rosary whenever and wherever needed.

Through the years Dorothy gained great confidence in her ability to lector, distribute communion, and be a greeter at masses, as well as a greeter at the hospital. She didn't want to be a burden on anyone, except for maybe a ride every now and then. Serving her community and those in need was her delight and her energy. Her purpose was to serve. One of her treasured rewards was "angel" status in the hearts of many. May she continue to wrap her wings around your heart and comfort you in your time of need.

Here are some of the things people may not have known about Dorothy. Her favorite colors were lavender and mauve. Her favorite movie was "White Christmas." Her favorite band was "Joe Sweeney and the Toe Tappers." She liked to dance the waltz and polka. If you were at the wake early, you would have heard a recording of her favorite song, "Tiny Bubbles." You would have heard Joe calling out her name, as well as other family members as they danced by. She attempted to drive a car once but almost hit a school bus and that was that.

She said she was born in 1934 and not 1926 (she may have been in denial). Her favorite job was at Northern Engraving. Dorothy was afraid of thunderstorms all her life. Her daughters recall hiding in the closet with her many times. She was not an earthly dreamer, never thought of winning the lottery and never envisioned a life other than the one she lived.

Dorothy is survived by her four daughters; brothers Emmett Whalen of Elkader, James Whalen of Augusta, WI, and Dan Whalen of Eugene, OR; sisters Anna Mae Curtin of Waukon, Delores McDowell of Des Moines; and sister-in-law Bernadette Whalen of Waukon. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Jessica (Hanson) Pope, Sarah Hanson, Abram Hanson, Caleb Hanson, Zachary Hanson, Josiah Hanson, Isaiah Hanson, Holly Connor, Diana Connor, Mark Baumgarten, Emilia Kenow, and Colin Kenow; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Agnes, and her father, William; brothers Donald and Patrick; sister Julia; stepmother Hazel Whalen, and Hazel's children, Mary Mauss, Myrt Larson, and Vivian and Jim Zoll.
WAukon Standard Internet Addition; 10 Apr 2007


 

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