Dorothy A. Waiksnis

Dorothy A. “Dodie” Waiksnis, 89, formerly of Newton, passed away Saturday evening, November 27, 2021, at the UnityPoint Health Center in Marshalltown.

A funeral service for Dodie will be at a later date, at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton, who have been entrusted with the arrangements. Memorials are being designated to the Dodie’s family or to a charity of your choosing. Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, facemasks will be optional, but encouraged at the services.

Dodie the daughter of Arie and Hattie (Bruxvoort) Olsthoorn, was born July 25, 1932, in rural Jasper County, Iowa. She attended rural Jasper County schools and graduated in 1949 from Kellogg High School. After graduation she moved to California, where she met her first husband, Alvin Copelin. Alvin passed away in 1987.

In 1997 she married Joseph Waiksnis and they had their home in Wyoming, Arizona and Montana, before moving back to Iowa. She worked as an accountant/bookkeeper for several local businesses. She was a member of the ladies’ auxiliary of the VFW, having held several offices, including treasurer and president. She was a member of the Newton Christian Reformed Church. She enjoyed bowling, horses, Pony Express and her garden. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Alvin Copelin; her brother Marion and a sister Harriet Van Wyk; a sister-in-law Sara Olsthoorn; a brother-in-law Walter Van Wyk; a stepson Lenny Stadtmiller.

She is survived by her husband Joe of Marshalltown; her siblings Gerald (Pansy) Olsthoorn of Hays, Kansas; Ardella (John) Burr of Newton; Ruth (Ron) Graham and Harvey (Sandra) Olsthoorn of Kellogg, step-grandchildren: Dana (Andrew) Anderson of Kellogg and Andrea Lawson of Des Moines; her 7 great grandchildren: including Makatlyn and Khryssa Anderson of Kellogg.

Online condolences may be left for the family at: www.pencefh.com.