Dolores Jean VanNatta

Dolores was born March 31, 1931, to Walter and Verna Schilling of LeMars, Iowa. She was baptized April 26, 1931 and confirmed April 02, 1944 at St. John’s American Lutheran Church in LeMars. She grew up on the family farm outside of LeMars, Iowa, attended rural school through sixth grade, and then attended public school in LeMars, graduating from LeMars High School in 1949.

She enjoyed roller skating in her younger years, which is where she met her lifelong partner, Robert. They were married November 12, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Her and Bob continued to roller skate and bowl with friends and family members for years. They built Skateland Roller Rink in Cherokee and operated it for 15 years after their retirement. They celebrated 63 years of marriage prior to Bob’s passing on September 16, 2014.

Dolores worked at LeMars Savings Bank in the bookkeeping department until getting married and moving to Cherokee. She was a stay-at-home mother as her children were growing up, then worked various jobs, including sewing for an upholstery shop and working with a professional photographer.

She was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where she was involved with Sunday school, bible school and church circle for many years. She also volunteered with the Auxiliary at a local nursing home for several years. Her hobbies included sewing, gardening, craft projects, and family fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada. She enjoyed spending time with family, especially her granddaughters and great grandchildren.

Survivors include her son, David (Jean) of Cherokee; daughter, Karen (Michael) Curry of McCook Lake, SD; granddaughters Carli (Cole) Curry Barbee of McCook Lake, SD, and Kayla (Amos) Biederman of Sioux City, great-granddaughters, Raeley Lynn, Kinley Marie, and Adaley Lucille Biederman of Sioux City, and great grandson, Kyler John Biederman of Sioux City; sister Joyce Loutsch of LeMars; sister-in-laws Darlene Patten, Beverly Heschke, and Linda VanNatta of Cherokee, along with several nieces and nephews and their families, and three step grandsons and families.

She was preceded in death by her parents and father-in-law Pearl L. VanNatta, her husband Robert, brother-in-laws Luverne, Darrel, and Clifford VanNatta, Kenneth Patten, Harold Heschke, and James Loutsch; sister-in-laws Marion VanNatta and Delores VanNatta; and grandchildren Heather and Christopher VanNatta of Cherokee.

Memorials may be directed to Cherokee Regional Hospice Care or Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Cherokee.