Dorothy D. Nafe

  Dorothy Darlene Sheeler was born July 18, 1925 the daughter of of Daniel D. and Eva L. (Cross) Sheeler on a farm two miles east of Kingsley.  She walked to country school during the depression carrying her tin lunch pail. Dorothy always excelled in school and after eighth grade graduation she was required to sit for a three hour high school entrance exam at the Plymouth County courthouse.  She recounted being “scared stiff” but went on to post the highest score ever recorded. She went to Kingsley High School during WWII and rationing, graduating valedictorian for the class of 1943. She earned her teaching certificate from Morningside College and taught kindergarten in both Milford, IA and Kingsley, IA schools.  On August 11, 1946 she was united in marriage to Dale Verlyn Nafe and thus began a true union of farmer and farm wife.  Dorothy continued her love of teaching through volunteering at Bible School and Sunday school.  Dorothy raised chickens. She ordered them and they came through the Post Office.  She started them in a brooder house and moved to the chicken house as they grew. Dorothy sold the extra eggs in town. Dorothy disked, plowed, drove the baler, sorted hogs and cattle and hauled in. She never drove the tractor in road gear. She always enjoyed gardening and "digging in the dirt." 

      Dorothy was devoted to her three children, Vicki, Vaughnda and Verlyn, raising them with a strict code of right always prevailing.  Dorothy was an accomplished seamstress especially adept at remaking garments to fit the needs of her children and using the leftover materials she had.  She served as the church pianist and organist for well over 50 years at the Pierson United Methodist Church. She played for weddings and many funerals. She considered her work within the International Order of the Eastern Star one of her most fulfilling accomplishments. Dorothy served two years as Worthy Matron and was also appointed Grand Representative to the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. She and Dale traveled to this province to represent Iowa in the Canadian Order of Easter Star. In later years she loved being an “Avon lady” selling products to her friends and neighbors. Dorothy and Dale traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  Dorothy also collected many antique dishes on her travels. She and Dale always visited flea markets, antique car and tractor fairs looking for a good deal.  After Dale's death in February of 1995, she stayed alone on the farm for three years. She was happy to buy a small house in Pierson which she "soon came to call home." She enjoyed living so close to the Pierson United Methodist Church and participating in community events.  She loved taking care of her grandson Michael when needed and being close enough to watch him grow up.  In July of 2017 she took a bad fall resulting in a move to Assisted Living in Correctionville, IA. After two years, and many more falls, moved to the nursing home side. She enjoyed the last six months of her life at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen, IA. Dorothy will be lovingly remembered as a very fair-minded Christian disciple always ready to offer a kind word along her way.

      Survivors include her daughter, Vicki (Wes) Hogeland, daughter, Vaughnda (David) Lumphrey, son, Verlyn (Charlene) Nafe, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 1/2 years, Dale, her sister DeLora Miller, parents, Daniel and Eva Sheeler, cousin, Wayne Tucker and all of her in-laws. 

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