"She was a wonderful lady and will be deeply missed by me and so many others. My heart goes out to all of you with love. "
In loving memory of
Harriet T. Dindinger
October 26, 1924 - October 1, 2017
HARRIET DINDINGER
MUSCATINE, Iowa - Harriet T. Dindinger, 92, of Muscatine, passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2017, at Lutheran Living.
Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 6, 2017, at the First Presbyterian Church, 401 Iowa Avenue. Rev. Dr. Pam Saturnia of First Presbyterian will officiate. Private burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 5, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home at 1931 Houser Street in Muscatine. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, University of Iowa Children's Hospital, or to the organization of the donor's choice.
Harriet Todd Dindinger was born October 26, 1924 in Bridgeport, Kansas, daughter of Verna Perrill Todd and Ralph Stewart Todd.
She spent her early years on the family farm near Bridgeport. During her junior high years, the family moved to Minneapolis, Kansas, where her parents operated R.S. Todd Funeral Home.
She graduated from Minneapolis High School in 1942. The family later moved back to the farm at Bridgeport.
Harriet attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri. While there, she worked in the print shop, and she met Telford Dindinger ("Ding"), who would later become her husband. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in January of 1946. She briefly taught at Syracuse, Kansas, and then taught three years at Frankfort, Kansas.
Harriet and Ding married on January 26, 1952, in Salina, Kansas, and they enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage. They lived in Kansas City for a time, where Harriet worked as a legal secretary and as a secretary at Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City.
They later lived in Salina and then in 1957, they moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where Ding entered seminary. They lived in several small towns in northeast Iowa as Ding served as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
They moved to Muscatine in 1967 and lived here for the remainder of their lives. Harriet raised their five children and then returned to teaching as a substitute teacher in the Muscatine Schools for a time.
Harriet was a musician; she played the piano and violin, and she had a lovely singing voice. She passed her love of music on to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and she continued to enjoy music her whole life. While in Muscatine, she played violin with the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra and for several musical events.
Harriet and Ding spent many happy hours with their grandchildren, making playtime as creative as they could. The grandchildren remember making cardboard robots, going on picnics, and exploring and enjoying nature at Weed Park and Oak Park.
She and Ding enjoyed relaxing with coffee at the Mississippi riverfront; they traveled to visit grown children; and they followed University of Iowa sports. Harriet corresponded with college friends for many years (via "round robin" letters), and she remembered others with notes and birthday cards until her death.
In August of 2011, Harriet and Ding moved into Lutheran Living, and Harriet remained there after Ding's death in December of 2011. She was
lovingly cared for by many health care professionals there, as well as by family. She continued to find joy in time spent with her family, and she welcomed her ninth great-grandchild, Zoey, in September, 2016.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Muscatine.
Harriet is survived by one son, John T. Dindinger (Tracy Connolly) of Muscatine; four daughters, Amy Dindinger of North Branch, Minnesota, Judy Dindinger of Muscatine, Susan Dindinger of Lawrence, Kansas, and Meg Dindinger of Cedar Rapids; three grandsons, Drew (Alissa) Burkamper of Muscatine, Vaughn (Megan) Burkamper of Atwater, California , Thad (Rachel) Burkamper of Muscatine; a granddaughter, Lindsey Dindinger (Zach Brewer) of Muscatine; nine great-grandchildren, Lucas, Ciara, Bella, Zane, Kael, Hayden, Wesley, and Connor Burkamper, and Zoey Brewer; nephews and nieces Rick (Bobbi) Baughman, Tim (Jana) Baughman, Todd (Susan) Baughman, Mary Jo (Neal) Roch, Carol (Bruce) Butler, and their families, and nieces Ann Fox (Bob) Morris and Jane Fox (Don) Birnie and their families.
Harriet was preceded in death by her husband, Telford H. Dindinger, her parents, and her sister, Eloise Baughman.
Tributes
"Our sincere sympathy to Harriet's family. We always enjoyed visiting with her at church. She was a delightful lady and we have good memories of her and Ding. We know she is now at home with her heavenly Father."
"Deepest sympathy "
"Judy I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother, you are in my thoughts and prayers."
"To my dear cousins and their families. When Jana and I think of your mom we always think of her special cards, of course, but mostly her always at the ready smile and her gracious and encouraging words. She was beautiful inside and out. These words from Ed Sheeran's song - Supermarket Flowers - make me think of her ... "So I'll sing Hallelujah, you were an angel in the shape of my mum When I fell down you'd be there holding me up Spread your wings as you go And when God takes you back He'll say Hallelujah, you're home" Love to you all, Tim and Jana"
"To my Cousins, Amy, Judy, Sue, John and Meg and the whole Dindinger clan. God blessed us all with your mom, our Aunt Harriet. Her smile always seemed to be on and was never without gracious, uplifting words. Ed Sheeran' song Supermarket Flowers made me think of Aunt Harriet - a few words from it.... "So I'll sing Hallelujah, you were an angel in the shape of my mum When I fell down you'd be there holding me up Spread your wings as you go And when God takes you back He'll say Hallelujah, you're home " We love you! Tim and Jana"