Delores "Dee" (Dooley) Armstrong (2021)

ALLSUP, ARMSTRONG, DOOLEY, GEHRINGER, HARTMAN, HENSON, MURPHY, ROSS, TRIBBY, WELTNER, WIEDMANN

Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:34

Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Delores "Dee" (Dooley) Armstrong

Adel - December 28, 1952 - April 11, 2021

No one fought harder than our sister and aunt! Until her last breath, she was not ready to quit. Our sadness and grief are not an indication that she lost her battle with breast cancer - rather, they will serve as a life-long reminder of what a fierce warrior she was, and how she WON the battle for seven long and exhausting years.

Dee was born the third of 13 children on December 28, 1952, to Ellen (Wiedmann) and Jim Dooley, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She graduated from Van Meter High School in 1971. Dee had many jobs throughout her life, most recently retiring from Stine Seed Company. But the two most important jobs she held were those of caretaker/second mom to her younger siblings and "Aunt Dee" to her many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Every one of "her kids" was truly her pride and joy.

In addition to "her kids," those left to cherish, honor, and remember Dee include: her siblings, Terri (Larry) Henson, Rosemary (Ron) Allsup, Jodi Murphy, Ginger Tribby, Margie (Chuck) Gehringer, Joanne (Bryan) Hartman, Nancy (Dean) Ross, Kevin Dooley, Carol (Dan) Weltner, Denise Dooley, and Tim (Lesley) Dooley; her many cousins; her lifelong friend, Linda Thornburg; and her long-time, faithful companion, Smokey.

Those who departed this world ahead of Dee and were waiting to welcome her home include her parents and grandparents, her brother Mick Dooley, brothers-in-law Ted Murphy and Neal Tribby, and nephew Tom Gehringer.

Graveside memorial service and celebration of Dee's life will be held Saturday, May 8, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Patrick's Irish Settlement Cemetery in rural Madison County.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Dee's name to Can-Do Cancer, the Pink Tractor Foundation, Dallas County EMS, MercyOne Hospice, AHeinz57 Pet Rescue, or a charity of your choice.