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Photo of Dorothy "Dode" Wanken

Dorothy "Dode" Wanken

8/17/1935 - 6/15/2022


Obituary


Dorothy “Dode” Wanken, 86, of Clarion passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton.

Funeral services for Dorothy Wanken will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion with Father Jerry Blake officiating.  Burial will be held at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion.

Dode was born and raised in Clarion, Iowa. She attended Clarion public schools and graduated from Clarion High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Kenny, when he was home on leave from the service – on June 30, 1954. She worked at the Clarion telephone company while Kenny served in Korea.  Upon his return they soon moved to the current Wanken Farm where she and Kenny raised their family of five children.  She was a devoted wife and mother; always looking her best with her lipstick on and not a hair out of place. She kept a meticulous home, baked the best chocolate chip cookies, and spoiled her grandkids with Special “K” Bars. Her kids and grandkids were the light of her life. After raising the kids she took a job with Kids Korner for 10 years.  After that she did in-home daycare for local families.  Her life was fulfilled by raising, rocking, and loving children!  Treating all children as if they were her own. She will be remembered with love and being that little lady full of energy and spice! We will love and miss you always. Dode is survived by her husband, Kenny Wanken of 68 years, and five children: Denise (Daniel) Schreiber of Algona, IA; Diana (Tim) Myers of Nevada, IA; Dana Wanken of Clarion, IA; Debra Blumenschein of Fort Myers, FL; and Dawn Waters (John Kirkpatrick) of Clarion, IA; sister Karen Jackson of Fort Dodge, IA; 13 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Cleo Lindstrom; a son, Dann Joseph; Sisters: Betty Lou Elston, Karlene Hansen, and one brother Wallace “PeeWee” Lindstrom, and one great grandson Chase Blumenschein.