Dorothy Happel Obituary

Dorothy (Renner) Happel, 93, of Waverly, Iowa, died on Saturday evening, June 17, 2017 at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly.

Dorothy was born on October 7, 1923 in South Dayton, New York, the daughter of William and Bertha (Bolte) Renner. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. At the age of 14, Dorothy went to live with her Aunt Emma and Uncle Ernst Tiedt on a farm near Readlyn. She attended and graduated from Readlyn High School. On January 19, 1943, Dorothy was united in marriage to Erwin H. "Erv" Happel in Berkeley, California, and in June of that year Erwin enlisted in the US Marine Corps during WWII. After his training, Erwin served in the Pacific Theatre of operation. During this time, Dorothy and their small daughter, Verilyn, lived in Waverly and Dorothy worked for the Lutheran Mutual Life Insurance Company. On March 2nd, 1946 following Erwin's discharge, he was reunited with Dorothy in Waverly. Over the years Erwin and Dorothy owned and operated Happel and Hahlweg Construction, the Dairy Crème east of Waverly and the Ski Villa north of Waverly. Dorothy then was the Route 3 rural mail carrier for the Waverly Post Office for 19 years prior to her retirement. Erwin died on August 8, 2008, and Dorothy continued to live in her home until December of 2013 when she entered Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community.

Dorothy loved to dance, play cards, fish, knit, read, and do word search, but her greatest enjoyment came from spending time with family and friends. She was a very active and faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church where she held various positions in the Dorcas Society. She was also a member of the VFW Post #2208 Auxiliary.

Dorothy is survived by her three children, Verilyn (Terry) Savage of Waverly, Iowa, Kendall Happel of Clarksville, Iowa, and Janelle (Kenneth) Bennett of Davenport, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; thirty-eight great- grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a step-great-great-grandchild; a brother-in-law, Marvin Happel; and two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Happel and Darlene Tiedt. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, "Erv"; her foster parents; her son, Raydean L. Happel; one granddaughter, Jodi Lynn Happel; one great grandson, Dustin Happel; her daughter-in-law, Karla Happel; and her foster siblings of the Tiedt family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at Good Shepherd Chapel at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly, with Pastor Sandra Burroughs officiating. Burial will be in Harlington Cemetery, Waverly. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the Good Shepherd Chapel on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation. Online condolences for Dorothy's family may be left at: www.kaisercorson.com. Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly is assisting the family. 319-352-1187.