Arlene Dorothy (Doolittle) ANDERSON

ANDERSON, DOOLITTLE, DINGMAN, BAKER, MEINDERS, RUSSELL, BENNETT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/10/2009 at 17:48:35

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA
5 Jan 2009

Arlene D. Anderson, 64, of Fort Dodge, died on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at the Tompkins Memorial Health Center in Fort Dodge. Services will be 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Gunderson Funeral Chapel in Fort Dodge with the Rev. Anita Johnson officiating. Interment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery at Clarion. The visitation is today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Memorials may be directed to the discretion of the family.

Arlene is survived by her husband Richard; her children, Bill (Audrey) Doolittle, Wichita, KS; Elizabeth (Russell) Baker, Des Moines; Michael (Amy) Anderson, Springfield, MO; Kimberly Anderson, Fort Dodge; Deloros Meinders, Des Moines; 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Joyce (Robert) Russell, Bethany, MO; Truman (Brenda) Doolittle, Ridgeway, MO; Frank Doolittle, Trenton, MO; Tina Bennett, Bethany, MO; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Vernon and Marcie Anderson, Apple Valley, MN; and her best friend Trudy Nerland. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Arthur Doolittle.

Arlene Dorothy Doolittle, the daughter of George and Viola (Dingman) Doolittle, was born July 24, 1944, in Webster City. She graduated from Webster City High School. In 1963, Arlene was united in marriage to Richard Anderson. Arlene worked as a nurse's aide and over the years continued her education at DMACC in Ankeny to become a registered nurse. She was Director of Nursing at Ellen's Nursing Home for more than 20 years. She also worked at Northwoods Living and with the Dept. of Human Services. Arlene later served as administrator of the Webster County Home and retired in 1999. Arlene enjoyed gardening and needlepoint and other handicrafts. She loved attending craft shows and auto shows. She loved her miniature pinschers, Rocky, Elvis, Peanut I and Peanut II. Arlene loved the music of Elvis and Ronnie Milsap and she was a collector of Elvis memorabilia. Most importantly, Arlene loved her family: her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.