Doris Culmer

Doris Marie Pitula Culmer was born on November 26, 1917, in the upstairs living quarters of the Soo Line Railroad depot in Lehr, ND. Her father, Bruno Paul Pitula, born in Chicago to a Catholic Polish immigrant family, was a telegrapher and station agent for the Soo Line in the Dakotas. There he met and married Kathryn Weber, a young woman born to a Baptist German immigrant family. Since there was no Catholic Church nearby in Lehr, he agreed that their three daughters would be raised Baptist. When Doris was in elementary school the family moved to Garrison, ND.
Kathryns religious beliefs and Brunos fierce belief in the power of education were factors that shaped Doris's early life. She excelled in music, playing violin and singing in musical events. She developed a lifelong interest in writing poetry. A tomboy, but also a vivacious girl, she was selected by Garrison businessmen to represent the town in the Miss North Dakota contest. Bruno was determined that his daughters would receive a college education. With little money, but with free railroad passes, he sent Lillian and Doris to the University of Minnesota and Lolita to Jamestown College. At the University Doris continued with her musical interests; she changed her career goals from medical missionary, to working in reform schools, to elementary education.
In 1939 while a senior, she met William Culmer, a physics graduate student. By June they were engaged. Doris graduated with her B.S. and was hired to teach at Groveland School in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. They were married January 1, 1940. Altogether she taught 4th and 5th grades for three and a half years at Groveland and Blake before World War II took them to Clairton, PA: Pueblo, CO; and Indianapolis, IN. Bill taught science and then worked on radar research for RCA. Because Doris was married, she was less employable as a teacher, so she did a lot of volunteer work. At the end of the War, Lessie was born and they moved to south Minneapolis. The births of Cara, Charles and William followed. Doris was involved in the Edgewater Methodist Church, serving on the official board, leading the Women's Society of Christian Service, and singing in the choir. She became program chair and president of each PTA organization as the children went through the public schools.
In 1959 Bill received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota where he also taught. In 1965 he was hired as Chair of Math and Science at the new Midwestern College, and the family moved to Denison that summer. Doris was an avid supporter of
Midwestern, developing supportive and continuing relationships with some students. Within a couple years she was approached to teach a small class of special education students which was housed in the basement of a church. She taught that class for two years but then moved to the high school where she taught secondary level special education, taking summer courses at the University of Minnesota to attain certification. She loved her students and was pleased when they found jobs and were successful in school. Some students kept in touch for years following their graduation. During this time she also served as advisor to the Unicorn, a creative writing publication where, again, she maintained meaningful friendships. In 1988 she retired after 20 years with the Denison Community Schools.
In 1986 she was elected to a term on the Crawford County Memorial Hospital Board. Following her retirement she occasionally judged for the Academic Decathlon. She was active with the Methodist Church, Crawford County Retired Teachers Association, AAUW, PEO, and Friday Club. She was the first woman voted into Kiwanis where she enjoyed the social service activities. Her favorite was the Listening Friend program where she read to or listened to kindergarten and first grade youngsters; she treasured their eagerness and her honest friendships with them for several years. During her retirement years she also took pleasure in her poetry writing.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Bruno Paul Pitula and Kathryn Weber Pitula; sisters: Lillian and Lolita, and in 1990 by her husband, William J.A. She is survived by four children, Lessie (Keith); Cara; Charles (Ji-lan); and William (Carol); as well as by grandchildren: Diana, Victoria, Benjamin, Michael.

Gathering of Friends visitation was held Saturday, March 12, 2011, at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.
Gifts in her memory may be made to Habitat for Humanity of West Central Iowa (P.O. Box 843, Carroll, IA 51401) or Wesco Industries (415 S. 11th St., Denison, IA 51442