Leavens, Darlene "Dolly" Mavis (1930-2016)
LEAVENS, HEFTE, THOMPSON, HANSON, BAKER, OSHEA, QUINN, OWEN, JOHNSON, FREIN, LAMONTE, SPIEKER, BARKEMA, ARCH, SHIRLEY, WEAVER, NEDVED, CURLEY
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/30/2016 at 17:48:38
Darlene "Dolly" Mavis Leavens
August 26, 1930 - July 24, 2016Surrounded by her family and under the care of Hospice of North Iowa, Darlene “Dolly" Mavis Leavens, 85, of Forest City, died on Sunday, July 24, 2016, at her home.
Darlene was born in Forest City, Iowa, a daughter of Arnold and Fern (Thompson) Hefte, on August 26th, 1930. Confirmed in the Lutheran Church, she attended Forest City Schools, graduating in 1947. A little later that same year, she married Earl Hanson. To their union, four children were born, Cynthia, Twyla, Debra, and Gregory. Their daughters were born in Amarillo, Texas, and their son in Southern California. After the children began school, she started working at the TG&Y department store close to their home in Anaheim. Later she became a dietician at the state hospital for mentally challenged children in Costa Mesa California where she worked until she retired in 1991. Then, she moved back to Forest City.
Dolly collected all kinds of things. Indeed, it might be easier to name what she didn't collect rather than what she did. She loved antiques and dishes, and she found many of her treasures at garage sales. She bought a home in Forest City that she had admired as a child and made it into "Dolly's Dream Home." Then, she spent many enjoyable hours finding ways to display her collections. She never minded dusting because she could admire each piece again. Dolly, along with her two sisters, Kitty and Enid, and her cousin, Arlene Baker, stripped the old alligatored paint off the outside of her house using tips from "This Old House" magazine and then repainted the house. They needed four years to complete the task, one year for each side. Dolly always wanted to do things the “right way”, not taking any "shortcuts."
On April 26, 2001, Dolly married Duane "Red" Leavens in Boone, Iowa. Dolly felt the happiest with Red by her side. A perfect match, they worked together on Dolly's list of projects. They, also, loved to listen to music and dance. Red never had any children of his own, but he quickly became a grandpa to Dolly's grandchildren. They thought they had the most beautiful grandchildren in the world! Dolly and Red had fifteen of the happiest years of their lives together, for which her children are grateful.
Darlene is survived by her husband, Duane “Red” Leavens, of Forest City; her daughters, Cynthia (Paul) O'Shea, of Garner, Twyla (Michael) Quinn, of Ventura, and Debra (Delbert) Owen, of Spokane, Washington; her son, Gregory Hanson, of Tustin, California; her grandchildren, Kevin and Jason Johnson, Kayla (Ben) Frein, Shelley (Michael) LaMonte, Shannon (Jason) Spieker, Summer (Doug) Barkema, Joy (Matt) Arch, Ryan (Paula) Shirley, and Jesse (Ashley) Owen; her great grandchildren, Alison, Chloe, and Jonah Johnson; Michael and Luke LaMonte; Sarah-Michele and Buck Weaver; Norah and Quinn Barkema; Lily and Colby Arch; and Della Rae Owen; her brother, Arnold Hefte; and special friend, Shirley; and her sisters, Kitty (Ed) Nedved and Enid Curley; as well as by many nieces and nephews.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Earl Hanson; her grandchild, Sarah Quinn; and her brother-in-law, Edgar (Pete) Curley.
As she wished, her remains were cremated, and private family services will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in her name to Hospice of North Iowa.
Copyright © 2016, Cataldo Schott Funeral Home
Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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