Juhl, Doris M.

Doris M. Juhl, 70, of Surprise, Ariz., and Merrifield, Minn., passed away at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, due to complications arising from her long-term fight with cancer and heart ailments.

She was born in Dayton, Iowa, on June 12, 1943, to Harry and Helen (Kramer) Nissen. She graduated from Dayton High School and attended AIB Business College in Des Moines, Iowa.

Doris was preceded in death by her father; mother; brother, Darrell (Denison, Iowa); and daughter, Deborah Owen-Bramon (Des Moines, Iowa).

Doris married Ronald E. Juhl on July 20, 1970, in Omaha, Neb. The marriage blended two families together, which to this day continues to generate lively annual family gatherings. Their lives began in Marshalltown, Iowa, but Ron's progression in UPS moved them frequently throughout the state. It was during their first move to Decorah, Iowa, that Doris began her career in the banking industry, with each move enabling her to take on roles of increasing responsibility. She started as a teller at Security Bank & Trust in Decorah in 1972. Two years later, she joined Merchants National Bank in Cedar Rapids and rapidly moved from a teller position to the vice president of HR for Banks of Iowa Computer Services. Her role was soon expanded to include executive secretary to the board of directors for Banks of Iowa. In 1979, the family moved to the Quad Cities and Doris joined Davenport Bank & Trust as a new accounts manager where she remained for 10 years until a move to Des Moines provided her a pathway to Northern States Franchises. Doris was a perfect fit for the Northern States operation, and was ultimately named vice president of Restaurant Services.

Although Doris supposedly retired in 1995, she continued to work part time as a business and finance consultant up until her death.

After retiring in 1995, she and Ron split their time between their lake home in Merrifield, Minn., and Des Moines until 1999, when they traded the Iowa snow for the Arizona sun and moved to Sun City Grand - Surprise, Ariz.

Doris is survived by her husband of 43 years, Ron; daughters, Lisa (Kevin) Blanchet and Tamara Steele (James Ellis); son, Scott (Sherri) Tilley; and eight grandchildren.

Doris' Celebration of Life will be held at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines on Saturday, Sept. 21. The visitation will take place from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by the Celebration and sharing of Doris' life at 2 p.m. Doris will be buried in a private ceremony in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Monday, Sept. 23.

In lieu of flowers (although we all know how Doris loved flowers!), memorial donations in honor of Doris, may be made to the non-profit programs that held a special place in her heart, the Care-N-Share Cafe at Emily Wesleyan Church in Emily, Minn., and the Hart Animal Shelter in Brainerd, Minn.

Doris will be greatly missed by her husband and extended family and by the many friends that she had gathered throughout her life.

Published Sept. 16 and 17, 2013 in The Gazette