Dolores J. Bode

Dolores Jean Bode was born on May 22, 1928 in Titonka, Iowa to William and Teda Tjarks Welhousen. She received her early education in country school in German township, and graduated from Titonka High School in 1945. Dolores earned her teaching certificate from Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. She taught country school near Titonka, Maple Hill and Lakota, Iowa. On July 3, 1952, Dolores was united in marriage to Harold Bode at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona, Iowa. The couple settled in San Diego, California, where Harold was serving in the U.S. Navy. During this time, Dolores was school secretary at El Toyon School in National City, California. The couple moved to Algona in 1955, where they farmed in the Plum Creek area north of town. She returned to teaching and taught elementary school at Wesley, and second grade and junior high science at St. Cecelia School in Algona. Over the years, Dolores continued her education at Wartburg, Drake, Mankato State, and Buena Vista. Dolores was a member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church, where she was active in C.D.A. and New Dimension. She belonged to Plum Creek Homemaker's Club and Farm Bureau Women's Association,...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

ere she held various offices over the years. She also enjoyed volunteering for her children's various school and 4-H activities. Dolores and Harold served together on the Garrigan Music Board and, in later years, delivered Meals on Wheels. In 1991, they retired and moved into Algona. Her husband Harold preceded her in death on August 13, 2005. Throughout her life, Dolores had a love of learning and finding order for all things. She took time to research topics of interest and enjoyed exploring the various places she visited. Her attention to detail always showed through in her baking, gardening and various house projects. She marveled at the wonders of nature, and also appreciated music and other fine arts. Her greatest love was her family, as she will always be remembered for putting others before herself. Dolores died on Wednesday, November 15, 2006, at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa surrounded by her family. She was 78. She is survived by her children, Steven Bode and wife Sandra of Algona, Iowa; Julie and husband LaMonte Gray of Adams, Minnesota; and Bonnie and husband Benjamin Ihde of Urbandale, Iowa; grandchildren, Ryan and Ashley Bode; Kelly, Paxton and Olivia Gray; Rachel and Lauren Ihde; step-grandchildren, Jason O'Donnell, Heather O'Donnell Curley; Andrew, Benjamin and Emily Gray; sisters, Anna Schutjer and Gertrude Sleper, both of Titonka, and her brother, John Boehm and wife Amy, Clear Lake, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; brothers, Wilbur and Herman Welhousen and sisters, Jeanette Krause and Ella Beenken.