Obituaries : Dorothy M. Woodhouse

Dorothy M. Woodhouse

VINTON – Dorothy Marie (Harms) Woodhouse, 97, died Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at the Vinton Lutheran Home.

The family will celebrate her life with a service at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Vinton with Pastor Zach Zajicek officiating. Family will greet friends from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton.

Dorothy was born April 1, 1918, on a farm in Johnson County, Iowa, the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Rinda Harms. Her parents moved to Iowa City in 1929, and she was educated in the Iowa City public schools and attended Brown’s Business College there.

Dorothy was employed by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, first as an aide to the x-ray technician in orthopedics, and then as secretary to the superintendent in the business office of the Children’s Hospital.

On January 6, 1940, Dorothy was united in marriage with Dr. Stanley Woodhouse. After his graduation from the College of Dentistry and his four years of military service during WWII, the couple came to Vinton where Dr. Woodhouse established his dental practice, and Dorothy became an active member of the community.

Dorothy was a 64 year member of Chapter HG of P.E.O., a 66 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 57, and a member of First Baptist Church and the Vinton Country Club. She served 5 years as a 4-H leader to the Taylor Township girls of Benton County.

She enjoyed bowling, playing golf and bridge, quilting, embroidering and reading.

Dorothy loved her many friends and enjoyed entertaining them, particularly from the kitchen. She was a great cook! She enjoyed tailgating in Iowa City because, once again, she could cook for lots of people. She liked spending time with Stan in Acapulco in the winter and gardening in the summer.

But most of all, Dorothy loved her family…she cherished every moment with them, whether it was one grandchild or the entire family. To her, it was worth celebrating. She considered herself and her family to be profoundly Blessed in this life and never failed to share what she had to give: her skills, her love and her Faith.

Dorothy is survived by one daughter: Joanne (Dr. Ronald) Hanneman of Coralville; two sons: Dr. Alan (Janet) Woodhouse of Vinton and Gary Woodhouse of Rockford, IL; 8 grandchildren: Dr. Stephanie (Dr. Kurt) Bowers of Bloomington, IL; Dr. Chad (Laura) Hanneman of Iowa City; Kristin (Donald) McGlaughlin of Iowa City; Anne White of Cedar Rapids; Matthew (Jennifer) Woodhouse of Fairfax; Shea McMann of Hiawatha; Dr. Justin (Dr. Allison) Woodhouse of Cleveland, OH; and Carrie Ahrens of St. Louis, MO; and 18 great-grandchildren (soon to be 20!): Kallan and Brynn Bowers, Mark and Maggie McGlaughlin, Jared and Josh White, Sarah and Blake Ahrens, Jacob, Elizabeth, Luke, Isabella and Sophia Woodhouse, Luke McMann, Jordan and Jace Woodhouse and Bella and Truitt Hanneman.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Stanley; one sister; daughter-in-law, Barbara Woodhouse; and grandson, Mark Hanneman.

Memorial contributions may be directed to First Baptist Church.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Dorothy and her family. Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.