Dorla Jean Woodruff

Dorla Jean Woodruff age 86 of Nashua, IA, died Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly, IA.

Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2018 at United Methodist Church in Nashua with Rev. John Tunnicluff presiding.  Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Nashua with Joel Jensen, Eric Jensen, Michael Woodruff, Nick LeClere, Brad Willman and Michael Wiegmann serving as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Austin Vincent, Brandon Jensen, Graham Brua, Scott and Chris Siemons, Austin Siemons and Brandon Siemons.

Friends may greet the family from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2018 at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home — Olson Chapel in Nashua.  Visitation continues an hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Dorla Jean Woodruff was born May 27, 1931 in Charles City, Iowa, the daughter of Milton and Dorothea (Draheim) Toepfer.  She attended Charles City Schools before graduating from Charles City High School in 1949.  After high school she went to work at Commercial Bank in Charles City.

When she was working at the bank she met the love of her life, Harlan Woodruff.  The couple met in 1954 and were married on January 16, 1955 and lived on their farm near Nashua.  To this union three children were born.  Dorla stayed home as a wife and homemaker where she and Harlan Raised their children before going to work at Farner-Bocker.  She took much joy in raising her children and taking care of her home.  She nurtured, cared and loved each of them.

While at Farner-Bocken she was the office administrator.  She truly enjoyed all the office work and bookkeeping that she did, although her favorite part of her job was the people she worked with.  Dorla always enjoyed talking with and getting to know people at work.  She retired from Farner-Bocken in 1999 after 21 years of loyal and dedicated service.

Dorla always loved her grandchildren more than anything.  She rarely missed any of their events whether it was a band concert, piano and dance recitals, 4-H or a sporting event.  They truly held a special place in her heart.  Music was always important to Dorla.  All of her children played instruments and that talent has been passed down to the next generations as well.  Along with music she enjoyed cooking and baking, she was known for her amazing pies.  She had a green Thumb and would make any plant thrive. Dorla, with her mother and sisters, enjoyed shopping at the mall in Waterloo.  After a full day of shopping they would treat themselves to a piece of pie at Bishop’s.

Dorla also loved to travel.  Her trip to Hawaii was always her favorite along with the many bus trips she took with her sisters.  She was involved with bible study, United Methodist Women, Nashua VFW Ladies Auxillary, Isabella Club, Pythian Sisters, Eastern Star and the Bradford Homemakers.

She is survived by one daughter, Marcia (Joel) Jensen of Denver, IA; one son Steve (Amy) Woodruff of Emmetsburg, IA; one daughter-in-law, Linda Woodruff of Rudd, IA; eight grandchildren, Michelle (Austin) Vincent of Lone Tree, IA, Eric (Courtney Roberts) Jensen of Tripoli, IA, Kourtney (Brad) Willman of Clear Lake, IA, Kristin (Brandon) Jensen of Waverly, IA, Samantha (Michael) Wiegmann of Mason City, IA, Maddison (Nick) LeClere of Cedar Rapids, IA, Skylar (Graham Brua) Woodruff of Iowa City, IA, Michael Woodruff of Cedar Rapids, IA; eight great-grandchildren, Bella, Ava, Carter, Alaina, Quinn, Gavin, Callahan, Evelyn; two sisters, Mercedes Toepfer and Barbara Leary both of Charles City, IA; two nieces, Deborah Leary and Linda (Craig) Harrington.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harlan in 1977; one son Scott in 2004; one sister in infancy, Susan.