116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Dorothy Charlene Thurston
Dorothy Charlene Thurston
Springville
Dorothy Charlene Thurston, 94, of Springville, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at the Anamosa Care Center. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. A visitation will be held one hour prior, beginning at 10 a.m. at the chapel. Burial at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Dorothy was born on July 27, 1929, in Fairview, Iowa, the beloved daughter of Robert and Loretta Oler. She graduated from Lisbon High School with the Class of 1948. Dorothy was united in marriage to Robert Alonzo Thurston on Aug. 27, 1950, in Lisbon, Iowa. She was a devoted homemaker and mother. Dorothy taught Sunday School at Springville Presbyterian Church for more than 35 years and served as Deacon.
Dorothy was an avid gardener. She kept a beautiful garden with award-winning flowers. Every harvest of delicious vegetables was shared with her neighbors. She was a member Presbyterian Women’s Club, Red Hat Society, and Springville Presbyterian Church for more than 66 years. Dorothy was a volunteer at SANSI.
She is survived by her son, Larry (Carla) Thurston of Hiawatha, Iowa; two grandchildren, Joel (Elizabeth) Thurston and Dallas Thurston; two great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Josephine Thurston; three siblings, Keith (Lois) Oler, Kenneth (Susan) Oler, and Virginia Stout; and beloved friends, Susan and Steven Tait.
Dorothy was preceded by her parents; spouse, Robert Thurston; and a brother, Claude Oler.
Charlene, as she was known by all, was many things in her life. A beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and “gramma gramma.” She had a passion for caring and was completely selfless. Charlene loved and lived every day with her whole heart. She left the fingerprints of her existence on countless lives and will truly be missed by anyone who knew her. She has gone home.
Memorial funds can be made out to the Springville Presbyterian Church.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.
Daily Newsletters