Doris Lea Kerr Persinger 1921 - 2014

KERR PERSINGER STOLL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/18/2014 at 20:27:18

Onawa Democrat
18 June 2014

Doris Lea Kerr Persinger, 93, of Whiting died Monday, June 9, 2014, at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, IA, surrounded by family.

Doris was born on March 8, 1921, in Wichita, KS, the daughter of Walter Chalmers and Reba May (Stoll) Kerr. She attended grade school in Newburg, MO, graduated from Pana Township High School in Pana, IL, and from Washington University, St. Louis, MO, in 1943 with a Bachelor of Arts.

Doris worked in the First National Bank in St. Louis, MO, as a secretary in the defense loan department from May 1943 until September 1944. In September 1944, she moved to New York City to work for Standard Oil Company of New Jersey until December 1944.

Doris married Ardell Louis Persinger on December 17, 1944, at the Methodist Church in Vineland, New Jersey. While Ardell served as a test pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II in Kastl, Germany, Doris returned to Pana, IL, to live with her parents and work at the First National Bank in Pana.

In 1947, Doris and Ardell moved to Whiting, IA, where they raised their daughter Dianne and son Ardell, Jr. Doris was a member of the First Congregational, UCC, Whiting. She taught Sunday school for sixteen years, helped with summer vacation Bible school and the church’s music program. She held the offices of secretary and president in Junior Philathea and was a Cub Scout den mother.

Doris loved reading, especially science and history. She served several terms as president of the Whiting Public Library Board. For thirteen years, Doris volunteered in the Whiting Community School Library and also helped organize many book fairs.

Doris considered music vital to her life. “Music is my constant in life. I’ve had music with me when people have come and gone.” She loved listening to classical music and opera. Doris practiced on her piano for hours at a time and shared her talent by playing for church services and other church activities. She played the piano at Pleasant View as well as doing other volunteer work there. She taught piano to her children and gave piano lessons at her home.

Doris attended Morningside College in Sioux City, IA, first to get her teacher’s certificate and, after that, her library certificate. She taught English at Whiting Community School in the late 1960’s and early 70’s and then worked six years as school librarian. Doris appreciated art and nature. Her travels included Mexico, Hawaii, Canada, and several trips to Europe where she enjoyed art museums and the outdoors.

One of Doris’s greatest joys was her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was involved in their lives babysitting and attending all their activities she could. She kept journals about each child.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Dianne and Philip R. Derr of Whiting; a son and his wife, Ardell “Del” Persinger and Mary Tabor of Washington, D.C.; five grandchildren, Christopher Persinger (Jessica) of Lee’s Summit, MO, Katharyn (Derr) Lang (Ben) of Bemidji, MN, Philip C. Derr of Addison, IL, Sarah (Ryan Coyne) Hammerschlag of Chicago, IL., and Benjamin Hammerschlag of New York City and McClaren Vale, Australia; six great-grandchildren, Jericho Persinger and Maddison Lorimor of Lee’s Summit, MO, Tanner, Tailor, and Theodore Lang of Bemidji, MN, and Lila Coyne of Chicago; one sister Jerry Kloever of Bradenton, FL; two brothers-in-law Gilbert (Bonnie) Persinger of Smithland, IA, and Richard (Nancy) Persinger of Arlington, TX; three sisters-in-law, Macel Schneider of Denison, IA, Irma Jean (Bruce) Wightman of White Bear Lake, MN, and Lois Jacobson (Loren) of Lee’s Summit, MO; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Ardell L. Persinger; three brothers-in-law Jack Kloever, John Schneider, and Ival Persinger; a nephew, Randy Schneider and a niece, Mary Badami.

In Memory Of
Doris Lea Persinger

Born
March 8, 1921
Wichita, Kansas

Entered Into Eternal Rest
June 9, 2014
Onawa, Iowa

Age
93 years ~ 3 months ~ 1 day

Memorial Service
Saturday ~ June 21, 2014 ~ 11:00 a.m.
First Congregational, UCC
Whiting, Iowa

Officiating
Rev. Reva B. Karstens
Scripture Readers
Philip C. Derr ~ Psalm 100
Chris Persinger and Jericho Persinger
Psalm 139: 1-18, 23-24
Katie Lang ~ Psalm 117 Lamentations 3:21-33
Del Persinger ~ Psalm 23
Eulogy
Dianne Derr

Music
Recordings of Doris’s piano solos/ Katie’s trombone group
Special Recorded Music
“Make Our Garden Grow” ~ Katie with Augustana Band
“Amazing Grace” ~ Katie with trombone choir

Visitation
Friday ~ June 20, 2014 ~ 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
First Congregational, UCC ~ Whiting, IA
Prayer service ~ 7:00 p.m.

Memorials
First Congregational, UCC or Whiting Public Library

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