Doris Marie Grotewold

Doris Marie Grotewold, 88, Lake Mills, passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family under the care of MercyOne Hospice of North Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Asbury United Methodist Church, Lake Mills.
Doris Marie Falck Grotewold was born in Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 11, 1931, the older of two daughters of Reverend Erling B. Falck and Gudrun Nilson Falck.
As an itinerant Methodist minister, the Rev. Falck served a number of churches for several years each, so the family moved from Harlem in New York City, to Corning, N.Y., to Detroit, Mich., and then to Lake Mills and Asbury Methodist Church, arriving in 1943. She met a local boy, Don Grotewold, shortly after arrival and they were inseparable for 75 years thereafter.
Doris attended Lake Mills Community Schools, where she was involved in chorus, marching band, and represented Lake Mills as Band Queen at the North Iowa Band Festival in 1949. She received Certified Nursing Assistant training in order to help care for her father, who was suffering from cancer. He died in 1948 and the family decided to remain in Lake Mills. Doris graduated in 1949 and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, receiving her teaching certificate. She taught in a country school for a year.
On June 2, 1950, Doris married Don Grotewold at Asbury Methodist Church, Lake Mills. They were the parents of five children: Scott Erling (who died in infancy), W Scott, Jane Marie, Brad Erling, and Joan Yvonne. In 1957, the family moved to a farm on the east edge of Lake Mills, where Don and Doris lived until their deaths.
Doris Grotewold was involved in the Lake Mills community and north Iowa in many ways. She was an organist and pianist at Asbury Methodist Church and other local venues for over 50 years. In her church membership, she served as Sunday School teacher, on many church committees, especially the church women’s organizations. She provided many meals for families throughout town at their times of celebration and sorrow.
Doris served on the North Iowa Mental Health Board for over 20 years. She was a part of the Promise of America Committee, which erected the Norwegian Immigrant monument at the eastern entrance to Lake Mills. She was proud of her 100 percent Norwegian heritage and was a master of its native breads and cookies: julekake, lefse, krumkake, pepperkake.
She was a member of Chapter EX of PEO, Lake Mills Literary Club, and the Fine Arts Guild. She made a beautiful home filled with boundless love for her husband and family. She enjoyed playing piano, music, playing bridge, shopping, ceramic painting, decorating and interior design, entertaining, watching pro basketball with her husband, and spending time with her family. She was an active grandmother and great-grandmothe,r who loved playing with them and attending their school activities. She was a kind and caring soul, beloved by all who met her.
She is survived by her children: W Scott and Susan Grotewold, Liberty, Mo.; Jane Grotewold Christianson, Lake Mills; Brad and Jeanie Grotewold, Lake Mills; and Joan Grotewold, Rochester, Minn.; 11 grandchildren: Donald Sampson (Sam) Grotewold II (Sabrina Tillman), Carlsbad Calif.; Kari (Brandon) Smith, Ames; Ben (Jacki Marchisio) Grotewold, Liberty, Mo.; Jessica (Rusty) Schipper, Lake Mills; Kelsey (Eric) Williams, Waukee; Jaci (Michael) Haugsdal, North Liberty; Cole Christianson, Lake Mills; Anna (Tim) Bierly, Rochester, Minn.; Blake (Murphy) Grotewold, Mankato, Minn.; Abby (Jordan) Ashbacher, Rochester, Minn.; and Rachel (Drew Schaeppi) Grace, Rochester, Minn.; 15 great-grandchildren: Cash Grotewold; Myah, Maysen and Mylie Smith; Elina Grotewold; Sawyer, Tate and JJ Schipper; Rooney and Finch Williams; Audrey and Issa Haugsdal; Carson and Quinn Christianson; and Max Bierly. sister, Gladys Shultz, Spirit Lake; two sisters-in-law: Marjorie Tardiff, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Ramona Twito, Lake Mills; 12 nieces and nephews; and a number of in-laws, significant others, cousins and other extended family, friends and admirers.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Erling B. Falck; by her husband of nearly 70 years, Don. S. Grotewold; by her infant son, Scott Erling; her father- and mother-in-law; three nephews and a niece; five brothers-in-law; a sister-in-law; and a number of other relatives.