Dorothea M. Odekirk, 89, of Fayette died Monday, July 10, 2017 at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 15, 2017, at the United Methodist Church in Fayette with Rev. Hyeunmee Kang officiating. Interment will follow at Dunham Grove Cemetery rural, Randalia. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 14th at Becker-Milnes Funeral home in Fayette and for one hour preceding services at the church on Saturday. Memorials may be made in her name to the United Methodist Church in Fayette or Palmer Lutheran Hospice.
Dorothea Maude, daughter of Jens and Grace (Follmer) Olsen was born August 10, 1927, at home in rural Winthrop, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Hazelton. Dorothea received her education in the Hazelton Schools graduating from Hazelton High School. Following high school, she received her teaching certificate from Upper Iowa University in Fayette. On July 10, 1944, Dorothea was united in marriage with Burton Odekirk at the United Methodist Church in Fayette. To this union two children were born, Warren and Anita. She taught in the Randalia, Sumner, and Fayette Schools for many years and in addition to teaching completed her Bachelor’s Degree from Upper Iowa University. Dorothea retired from teaching in 1986. She was a long time member of the United Methodist Church in Fayette, A.A.U.W., and Delta Kappa Gamma where she served as an officer for many years. Dorothea loved playing cards.
In addition to her husband, Burton of Fayette, she is survived by her two children, Warren (Carol) Odekirk of Bloomington, Illinois, and Pastor Anita Bane of Rockewell City; two grandchildren, Aaron (Paula) Odekirk, and Laura (Dan) Sinkgraven; one brother, Norman (Roberta) Olsen of Latimer; one sister, Marie Eisenman of Grinnell.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Donald Olsen.
