Doris Gansen

Doris Ione Gansen, 82, of 704 South 12th Street, Clear Lake, Iowa  passed away Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012 at the I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City, Iowa.

A  Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1001 9th Ave. S, Clear Lake.   Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City.  Visitation will be held at the Ward-Van

 Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th Street, Thursday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. with a Scriptural Wake Service at 7 p.m.

Doris Ione Gansen was born May 2, 1930 in Geneva, Iowa, the daughter of Chester & Tressa (Woodley) Kurtz.  

Doris graduated from Geneva High School in 1948.  She was a member of the Lime Springs Girls basketball team, the class play and girls glee club.

On Feb. 20, 1950 Doris married the love of her life, Donald Gansen, in Chester, Iowa.  Together they raised six children. They moved to Clear Lake in 1961.  

After their children were raised Doris enjoyed selling Avon for over 35 years.  She enjoyed collecting light houses and angels and spending time with friends at diet club and coffee club every Friday morning.

Doris and Don enjoyed spending winters in their home in Arkansas and taking in shows. Doris enjoyed doing various puzzles, writing letters and especially liked spending time with her family. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Clear Lake.

Doris is survived by her children, Fran Gansen, Mason City, David (Kathy) Gansen, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Richard Gansen, Clear Lake, Brenda Tuttle, Mason City, Ken (Elaine) Gansen, Jewell, Iowa, and Kathy (Steve) Brown, Clear Lake; 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Gloria (Ken) Nordheim, Decorah, Iowa, and Joyce Zeliadt, Hampton, Iowa; one brother, Morris (Lucille) Kurtz, Citra, Fla.; Godson, Danielle O’Brien; and Goddaughter, Tiffany Skaggs, Waverly, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don, on Dec. 17, 2011; brother, Leonard Kurtz; daughter-in-law, Connie Gansen; and granddaughter, Nichol Gansen.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.