Obituary of Dorothy Chamberlain

A funeral service for Dorothy Chamberlain , age 100, of Milford will be held Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 2:00pm at Union Memorial Church in Milford. Burial will be at Northlawn Cemetery in Spencer. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Dorothy was born at home in Clay County on August 9, 1915, to Elmer and Carrie (Kessler) Nitzsche. She attended a one-room school on the Nitzsche land, went on to Lake Center School and then graduated from Spencer High School. She was united in marriage to Roland Lang Chamberlain at the rural Nitzsche home on April 7, 1937, and celebrated 69 years of marriage before Roland's passing. She passed away on December 26, 2015, at St. Luke Lutheran Home, Spencer, Iowa. Dorothy and Roland farmed in Clay and Dickinson Counties. Dorothy was actively involved in planting and harvesting the land, as well as maintaining her own extensive gardens. She preserved, canned, baked, made candy, pickles and jellies. She excelled at sewing, embroidery, crocheting and quilting. She was the family historian and always remembered family and friends with cards and notes on special occasions. Dorothy was a faithful member of churches in Terril, Langdon and for the last 66 years at Union Memorial Church in Milford. She served as President of the Guild and Circle, Sunday School teacher, financial secretary, delegate to Annual Conference, choir member and she coordinated and implemented church dinners. She volunteered to play the piano and organ at the church, and into her 90's, at The Highlands and St. Luke Lutheran Home. Dorothy was a leader in many community organizations, including Farm Bureau, 4-H, County Fairs, Dickinson County Chorus. She volunteered as a blood donor and deliverer of Meals-on-Wheels. She was a kind and generous spirit, always available to help anyone in need. She is survived by daughter Arlene (Fredrick) DeVries, Des Moines, Iowa; son Roger (Barbara) Chamberlain, Denver, Colorado; seven grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland; a brother, Floyd Nitzsche; a sister, Ruth Kaus; and a half-sister, Lucille Downing. Memorial contributions may be made to Union Memorial Church, Milford, or to Spencer Municipal Hospital, Spencer.