Docekendorff, Margaret Helene (Clarke)

DOCEKENDORFF, CLARKE, MCLEAN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2005 at 19:59:12

Funeral services for Margaret Helene Docekendorff, 89, of Pella, who died Thursday August 14 were held Monday August 18 at the Second Reformed Church in Pella.

Revs. Steve & Sophie Mathonnet- Vander Well officiated and music was provided by Dr. Davis Folkerts, organist.

Internment was at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella, Iowa. Casket bearers were Donald Mac Farquhar, Gary Mac Farquhar, Kenneth Mac Farquhar, Bernie Brom, Le Roy Nugteren, Arvid Pearson, and Tom Waechter. Ushers were Sue Brandl and Peggy Pearson.

Margaret Helene Dockendorff was born on September 3, 1913, at College Springs in Page County, Iowa. She was the oldest of five children born to William Clarke and Nelle Gillespie Mc Lean.

Helene, as she was known, went to the College Springs Consolidated Grade School and graduated from Amnity High School in 1931. The next two years she attended Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri.

On August 1, 1933 she was united in marriage with Mayvor Marion Dockendorff at College Springs and to this union two children were born: Doris Jean, who was born on August 2, 1935 and Gretchen Helene, who was born in 1943 and died in infancy. Following their marriage they lived in Waterloo, Iowa for two years and in July of 1935 moved to Pella, Iowa. "Dock" founded and taught vocational agriculture for the Pella Community School district for many years.

During World War II, "Dock" served in the United States Navy serving as a training instructor at Bainbridge, Maryland and at Brooklyn, New York. Following the war the family moved back to Pella. There was a great need for teachers, and in 1947 Helene began a 26-year teaching career as a kindergarten teacher, while also attending Drake University. Helene especially recalled tables filled with blue painted hand plaques with silver palms and fingers which were given to the parents of each student at their Christmas Carol program.

She received her degree in Music Education from Drake University in 1953, where she was also elected to Pi Kappa Lambda music honorary. Helene's teaching career ended after two spinal injuries decreed less strenuous physical involvement. Helene had always had a great interest in music, and enjoyed playing piano as a young girl.

She began teaching piano lessons and continued this for more than 35 years. The Dockendorff Studio in her home at 614 Monroe Street had seen many individual and group lessons and numerous recitals. Helene also assisted the Central College piano department as well as playing the violin in the Central College Community Orchestra. She continued to upgrade her teaching skills through graduate work at Drake University and through classes at International Music Workshops throughout the world, visiting over seven different nations.

"Dock" passed away quietly on June 10, 1986 at the age of 78. Helene lived in the family home until moving to Hilltop Manor North in October of 1999. As her own health began to decline she became a resident of the Long Term Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center, where she passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 14, 2003, just 20 days before her 90th birthday.

She is survived by her daughter, Doris J., Mrs. Donald Mac Farquhar of Wellsville, New York and two grandsons: Gary J. and his wife Karen (Woythal) Mac Farquhar of Evergreen, Colorado and Kenneth A. and wife Susan (Brimer) Mac Farquhar and their two sons Dylan and Zachary of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Of her original family Helene leaves her sister, Jean, Mrs. Raymond Den Hartog of Clear Lake, Iowa and a sister-in-law, Ava Lou, Mrs. (Lloyd C.) Mc Lean of Urbandale, Iowa. Preceding her in death beside her infant daughter, Gretchen, were her parents and her two brothers: Lloyd C. and Nevin R. Mc Lean, along with her sister Mary A. Sasges.

Helene felt a strong kinship with other professionals and was a member of the Iowa Music Teachers Association, Southern Iowa Music Teachers Association, National Music Teachers holding Master and National Certification, National Guild of Piano Teachers, Des Moines Music Teachers Association, Reserve Officer Association Ladies- Iowa Chapter, American Legion Auxiliary, Iowa Federation of Women's Club, T.T.T. Society - 60 year member, and a more than 60 year member of the Second Reformed Church in Pella where she sang in the choir .

In recent years she enjoyed traveling to visit her family. Helene's teaching career in kindergarten and music touched many lives of the hundreds of young people. Hardly a day passes that someone doesn't remark that "She was my kindergarten teacher," or "I had her for music lessons."

For those desiring, memorials may be designated for the Second Reformed Church or Hospice of Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, August 29, 2003