Earl Thomas Doll 1923 - 2024

BARNES, DAHL, DOLL, GOLLHOFER

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/6/2024 at 13:13:37

The Grapevine
Whiting, Iowa
28 August 2024

Earl Thomas Doll, 100, of Onawa, Iowa, passed away Friday, August 23, 2024 at Pleasant View Care Center in Whiting, Iowa.

A graveside service will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at the Charter Oak Cemetery near Charter Oak, Iowa with Pastor Clif Cockburn, officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Navy and the David McNeill American Legion Post #129 of Onawa, Iowa. A recording of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Earl’s obituary. A visitation will be 4:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel in Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Earl Thomas Doll was born December 9, 1923 on a farm southeast of Mapleton, Iowa the son of Gale V. and Alice (Barnes) Dahl. Some of the family spelled their surname Doll. Earl was the seventh of eight children born to the Doll family: Carl, Mildred, Minnie, Erma, Frieda, Mabel, Earl, and Gale Lavern. Earl attended rural country schools near Mapleton, Iowa until the fifth grade and then moved into Ute Public School until the War became imminent. Earl then enlisted in the United States Navy for a period of time and was transferred into the United States Marine Corps for special services. He received a medical discharge and returned to the Ute, Iowa area for recovery.

Earl and Pearl Gollhofer were united in marriage on September 2, 1945 in Charter Oak, Iowa.

Earl worked as an auto, truck, and tractor mechanic until his doctors felt the profession was hindering his physical recovery and he needed a different line of work. Earl became a feed salesman for the next seven years and then a policeman for the Onawa Police Department for many years. In the 1950’s he started working for Russell Pearson at the Pearson Funeral Home in Onawa, Iowa where Earl assisted in all aspects of the funeral home profession and retired in 1989 after thirty-five years. He continued working for himself in his Doll Monument business, helping many families over the years select their cemetery monument. After his wife Pearl was called home with the Lord, Earl needed time to recover and retired from the monument business he had built. He enjoyed the slower pace and has lived a great retirement. Later in life, Earl and Pearl’s family had all gone on, but it seemed other people cared for and checked on him and his welfare for he always gave thanks with a grateful heart. He always asked God’s blessing upon each and everyone who cared and checked on him.

Earl is survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends, and care givers.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl Doll; his parents, Gale V. and Alice (Barnes) Dahl; parents-in-law, August and Flora (Hufford) Gollhofer; seven siblings, and numerous other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Earl’s memory may be payable to Read to Succeed program or the David McNeill American Legion Post #129 of Onawa, Iowa.

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