Dorothy Lois Russell

Dorothy Lois Russell

Clarence

Dorothy Lois Russell, 97, of Clarence, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, at the Clarence Nursing Home. Funeral services will be held at the Clarence United Methodist Church on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Theodora Okine officiating. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until time of service at the church. Burial will follow at the Clarence Cemetery.

Dorothy was born May 20, 1926 into the Walter and Mabel (Scott) Horstmann family, “Wapsi Valley Stock Farm,” east of Toronto, Liberty Township, Clinton County, Iowa. She beautifully played the roles of daughter, sister, teacher, farm wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and church member.

Dorothy attended Muhl School through eighth grade and graduated from Wheatland High School in 1944. She attended Mount St. Clare College in Clinton and Coe College, majoring in elementary education. Dorothy’s first teaching position included janitorial duties at the Muhl School, a one-room country school near her home. Two of her nine students included her sister, Lola, and brother, Harold. She also taught elementary school in Lost Nation and Clarence Consolidated Schools.

Dorothy met her future husband, Keith E. Russell, while teaching in Clarence. They were married on June 16, 1951, at the St. Paul Evangelical & Reformed Church in Wheatland and were married 63 years. She and Keith farmed with a beef cattle operation north of Clarence in Dayton Township. They moved into town in 1986 and since 2015 Dorothy lived at Clarence Assisted Living and then later at the Clarence Nursing Home. After moving to the Clarence Nursing Home she enjoyed family visits, bingo and completed hundreds of Word Search books.

Dorothy was received into membership of the Toronto Community Church on April 18, 1943, and later transferred to the Clarence United Methodist Church and was active in church affairs while being a 60-year plus member of the United Methodist Women and a founding member of Sewing Surkle in 1971. The Sewing Surkle was especially important to Dorothy as she enjoyed the fellowship of quilting items for the annual UMW Bazaar and Clarence Nursing Home.

Dorothy was a former member of the Clarence Chapter No. 461 of the Order of Eastern Star. She was involved with her children’s 4-H activities as well as sporting and music events. In later years, she found great joy in following those same activities with not only her six grandchildren but 10 great-grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved Keith on Sept. 26, 2015; her parents; four siblings, Darrell, Beulah Gade, Lola Barner and Norman; and great-grandson Carson J. Hulse on Aug. 4, 2011.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Gwendy (Kirby) Phillips, Candice (Denny) Hulse and Larry (Suzanne), all of Clarence. She left behind grandchildren Shannon (Jason) Jamison of Monticello, Lisa (Brian) Davis of Cedar Rapids, Angie (Erik) Danielson of Bettendorf, Greg (Jessica) Hulse of Grimes, Stephanie (Adam) Kaefring of Solon and Branden Russell of Clarence; great-grandchildren, Alex and Ajay Jamison, Tyler Davis, Grace and Jaxsen Danielson, Morgan and Brooklyn Hulse and Henry, Vera and Clara Kaefring. Her younger brother Harold Horstmann of Kerrville, Texas, survives along with several nieces and nephews.

Dorothy’s family would like to extend a special thank-you to the staff of the Clarence Nursing Home, Above & Beyond Hospice and Chapman Funeral Home for taking great compassionate care of her.

Chapman Funeral Home has Dorothy and her family in their care. To leave a memory or condolence please visit www.chapmanfh.com.