Dorothy E. Furne

Dorothy Elizabeth Ladwig was born on July 6, 1925 on a farm in Goodrich Township, Crawford County, Iowa, the daughter of Albert and Hulda Ladwig. At age eleven, Dorothy started working as a caretaker for children during the summer months while she wasn’t in school. After graduating from school (8th grade), she continued working as a caretaker for the Koll family, two elderly people who couldn’t take care of themselves. She then worked at Nick’s Nook, a hamburger caf where she met and later married Charles Furne. She also worked at Armors egg drying plant, Eventide Home for the Aged, the New Process Laundry, graded eggs for about five years and was a deputy County Assessor for eight years. Finally, she worked at the Denison Senior Center until she broke her leg from a fall.
On June 20, 1944, Dorothy was united in marriage with Charles Maynard Furne at the Charter Oak Lutheran Church. Their union was blessed with three children, Larry, Mary and Jerry. Charles and Dorothy lived in Denison when first married, moved to Arion for several years, and then returned to Denison.
Dorothy died Saturday morning, June 17, 2017 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. At the time of her death she had attained the age of 91 years, 11 months and 19 days. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. Her favorite activities included spending time with family and friends, playing cards, or going out for an occasional movie.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Charles, her parents, her brothers Edward and Melvin and her sister Gladys.
Those who remain to cherish her memory include her two sons and their wives, Larry and Felice; and Jerry and Rajean; one daughter and her husband, Mary and Ron; ten grandchildren: Jennifer, Cynthia, Brian, Jonathon, James, Jessica, Brenda, Kerry, Shane, and Angela; thirteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Darlene; other relatives and friends.