Dorothy Schimmelpfennig Thomas

Dorothy Schimmelpfennig Thomas, age 97, passed away on September 28, 2015, in Sigourney, after a long and wonderful life. She has been living at the Sigourney Care Center for the past few years.

Dorothy was born on February 19, 1918, in Iowa City, the only child of Edith Conklin. As a child, Dorothy lived in Detroit, Michigan and several towns in and around Keokuk County. She graduated from North English High School in 1937.

On November 26, 1939, she married Vernie Schimmelpfennig and helped him manage the Schimmpfennig trucking business. They had two sons: J.D. and Robert. In 1959, they moved to Kankakee, Illinois, where Dorothy worked for General Foods until her retirement. After retirement in 1973, Dorothy and Vernie moved back to Sigourney but traveled extensively, spending most winters in Texas and Arizona. Several years after Vernie?s death, Dorothy entered Iowa Wesleyan University and traveled to the Holy Land as part of her course on Religions of the World. Around this time, she also joined the Toastmaster?s Club. In 1984, Dorothy married Bill Thomas, a former high school classmate, and was with him until his death seven years later.

Dorothy has been very active in the community. She worked with Hospice, was on the Foster Care Board, worked with For Kids Sakes, the Blood Bank and served on the Arts Council, as well as participating in several of their plays. She was a member of P.E.O., the Red Hats Organization and the Farm Bureau, where she was a member of the beloved Kitchen Band for many years. In 2006 she was selected Co-grand Marshall of the Fourth of July Parade and in 2007 received the Governor?s Award for Volunteerism. Dorothy was also a great baker and shared her cakes and cookies with many friends.

Survivors include two sons: J.D. (Kathy) Schimmelpfennig of Mt. Pleasant and Robert J. Schimmelpfennig of Orlando, Florida; a step-daughter: Betty Rose Gerberich of Des Moines; six grandchildren: Tad (Melissa) Schimmelpfennig, Matthew (Tabbi) Schimmelpfennig, Joe (Vanessa) Schimmelpfennig, Sam (Megan) Schimmelpfennig, Dorita (Bob) Bates, Rob (Heather) Schimmelpfennig; step-grandson: Steven Gerberich; 16 great grandchildren: Austin, Katie, Lauren, Ava, Luke, Adison, Brandt, Connor, Hunter, McGuire, Jack, Kate, Lou, Mady, Izzy, Hudson and many good friends. She was preceded in death by her mother and both husbands.

Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at First Presbyterian Church in Sigourney, with Rev. Jim Stout officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Sigourney at a later date. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the Sigourney Public Library. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Sigourney is caring for Dorothy and her family. Tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful people at the Sigourney Health Care Center for the kindness and excellent care given Dorothy during her stay there. She was happy and felt very much at home.