DODD, Bernice 1918-2013
DODD, DEGRAFF, VANBENTUM
Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/18/2015 at 16:39:48
Bernice Edna Dodd, age 95, of Dike, passed away Wednesday, December 18th 2013, at the Long Term Care Unit of the Grundy County Memorial Hospital. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at Orchard Hill @ Lincoln Center, Grundy Center. Burial will follow the funeral service at Elmwood Cemetery in Dike. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Engelkes-Abels Dike Chapel, 680 Main Street, Dike, Iowa.
Bernice was born March 29, 1918, on a farm near Prairie City, IA the daughter of Edward and Marie (VanBentum) DeGraff.
Prior to marriage she attended the State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and taught at the Pleasant Hill School and Fair Oaks School, both in Marion County, IA.
On February 14, 1946, she was united in marriage to Byrl Dodd in Prairie City, IA. They were married for 50 years. Byrl and Bernice were engaged in farming near Grundy Center and in 1953, moved to a farm near Dike. In 1977 they semi-retired from farming. During retirement they enjoyed fishing trips with family and friends, as well as traveling Europe, Hawaii and other parts of the United States.
Bernice enjoyed sharing her chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls with family and friends and opening her home to host a meal. She was "Grandma Dodd" to many neighborhood children and has left her legacy of hugs and kindness to many. She attended activities and events in which her grandchildren participated and truly enjoyed her role as Grandma.
She was an active member of the Lincoln Center Christian Reformed Church of rural Grundy Center, assisting with Bible School and a member of Dorcas and Sunshine Circle.
A devout Christian, she led by example in the home and in the lives she touched.
Survivors include Duane and wife, Kathy, of Milford, IA; Daryl and wife, Amy, of Anaconda, Montana; Dennis and wife, Jane, of Dike and son-in-law, Tim Dennis of Quincy, Illinois. Brother, Marion and wife, Annabelle, of Runnells and sister, Marilyn and husband, Wayne Northway, of Runnells. Along with 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great-grandchildren.
Bernice was preceded in death by Byrl, in October of 1996, her parents, brothers, Dale (Margaret) and Harold (Bertha) and daughter, Diane Dennis in March of 2006.
--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)
Grundy Obituaries maintained by Tammy D. Mount.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen