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.