Dorothy Trumpold

DOROTHY E. TRUMPOLD

Amana

Dorothy E. Trumpold, 104, formerly of East Amana, died on Dec. 26, 2016, at Colonial Manor of Amana. Funeral services: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at Middle Amana Church, with Elder Betsy Momany officiating. Burial will be in East Amana Cemetery. Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at Middle Amana Church.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Amana Church Society and Amana Artists Guild.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Rosalie (Larry) Ochs of Amana; granddaughter, Teresa Ochs of Tiffin; a grandson, Don (Mary) Ochs of Ankeny; two great-grandsons, Matthew (Tamara) Ochs of Urbandale and Stephen Ochs of North Liberty; and three great-great-grandchildren, Kieran, Emery and Carter Ochs of Urbandale.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and her sister, Louise Blechschmidt.

Dorothy was born Sept. 22, 1912, in East Amana, Iowa, the daughter of Benjamin and Catherine Hess Schuerer. She lived in the Amana Colonies her entire life. As a girl, she learned knitting, crocheting and embroidery like many other girls in the community. On Sept. 23, 1933, she married Carl Trumpold in East Amana Church. At that time, she was working at the Amana Woolen Mill in the spinning department. In 1940, she took over carpet weaving from her grandfather, who had become ill. Because of his concern that no one would pick up the weaving duties, Dorothy accepted the task and found that this was something she really liked doing. She had a great ability to mix colors and always appreciated the comments people would make about her creations. She also worked for many years at the Ronneburg Restaurant in Amana.

Along with cooking, she also enjoyed gardening and growing flowers, and took pride in maintaining the appearance of her home, yard and garden.

The highlight of her life was being honored with the National Heritage Fellowship award in 2001, by the National Endowment for the Arts. This is the highest honor in the United States given in recognition of shaping folk and traditional arts. She received this award in Washington, D.C., for her excellence in rug weaving.

Additionally, Dorothy is one of five artists featured in a book written by Alana Governor titled "Extraordinary Ordinary People." Dorothy loved time spent with all the generations of her family and also appreciated cards, letters and visits from others while a resident of Colonial Manor.

Online condolences maybe left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.