Dorothy Mae Reimers

Dorothy Mae Reimers passed away on August 18, 2023 at the Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone, Iowa. She was born at home on December 20, 1928, to Ferdinand Albert Zwald and Prudie Viola Rinehart and raised on the family farm in Boone County, Iowa.

She attended Maple Grove Country School in Amaqua Township through 8th grade and Ogden High School where she played basketball and softball graduating in 1947. After graduating from high school, she attended cosmetology school in Des Moines, Americana School of Beauty.

She was confirmed on April 18, 1943, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden.

Dorothy was united in marriage to Robert DeVere Reimers on November 30, 1948 at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden, Iowa. The couple made their home on a Reimers farm in Amaqua Township just six miles from her birthplace. Here they raised corn, soybeans, cattle, hogs, ponies and four children. After her youngest child was of school age in 1962, she opened a beauty shop in Boxholm, Iowa styling hair for 20 years until her retirement on April 30, 1982. Dorothy and Robert celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on November 30, 1988. Robert passed away from kidney cancer on March 1, 1995. Dorothy lived on the family farm in Amaqua Township for 73 years.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, LWML, William B. Ogden #1247 Questers group and many quilting groups. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed sewing and quilting for family and friends, playing cards, dancing at Lake Robbins, collecting antiques, traveling, camping, flowers and gardening, and spending time with family and grandchildren from Illinois to Colorado.

We were fortunate to celebrate her 80th and her 90th birthday with most all her family members present. She enjoyed traveling to Hawaii to see her brother and sister-in-law and traveled to Europe with her friend Donna Bollenbaugh as well as other travels with Robert. She took annual after Christmas train trips to visit daughter, Roxanne in Colorado.

Preceding her in death were her husband; parents; father and mother-in-law, Edward and Lorine Reimers; sister, Twila Morgan (William); and brother, Donald Zwald (Suzanne).

Survivors include her daughter, Rhonda (Robert) Nelson; son, Randy (Lynne) Reimers; son, Rick (Carol) Reimers; daughter, Roxanne (Mikel) Lewis; nine grandchildren: Ryan Libby) Nelson, Steven (Minda) Nelson, Jessica Nelson, Reese (Carrie) Reimers, Leslie (Josh) LeColst, Lindsey (Ben) Thomas, Lauren (Jared) Lundberg, Katelyn (Travis) Jones, James Lewis and 17 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life service for Dorothy will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, August 25, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden. Pastor Christopher Walters will officiate. Visitation will be held from 6-8 P.M. on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church.