Doris Elaine Battern's Obituary
Doris Elaine (McNerney) Battern died peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. She was 87 years old.
Doris was born on March 26, 1934, in Clarinda, Iowa. She moved with her family to Storm Lake, where she finished high school as her class valedictorian and where she met her husband of 67 years, Robert (Bob) Battern. They married on February 8, 1953. Over the years Doris was a devoted mom to four children, each of whom have memories of her fierce love throughout their lives. While she had numerous jobs over the years, including as a bank clerk and in the local grocery bakery, her favorite periods of employment were when she worked alongside Bob, first at Bobs Hardware Hank in Arnolds Park and later as owners of the Montgomery Ward in Milford.
Their life adventures took them to Columbia, Missouri, in the mid-1980s, and in their retirement, Doris helped Bob build hundreds of projects in his woodshop, including nearly 100 collapsible desks for school students in Guatemala. She also loved to bake and made amazing pies, cakes, cookies, and desserts. They returned home to Okoboji in 2018 and after Bobs passing in 2020, Doris lived first with her daughter Kari and then her daughter Lisa. Never one to sit still, to the end she wanted to be helpful and useful, even as dementia stole her abilities one by one.
She will be remembered by those who loved her as a smart, strong woman who loved and cared for her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was the essence of self-sacrificial love and those whom she loved felt the care and support she extended with abandon.
Her death reunites her with her husband, Bob, whom she loved unconditionally; her parents, John and Mildred McNerney; her brothers, Daryl McNerney and Don McNerney; her granddaughter, Jennifer Battern; and two of her sons-in-law, Tom Heidenreich and Duane Larson.
Her love lives on in her children, Minda Heidenreich of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; John (and Julie) Battern of Arnolds Park, Iowa; Kari (and Robert) Lucke of Columbia, Missouri, and Alisa Larson of Centerville, Iowa. She is also survived by her sister Mary Morgan of Eldon, Missouri, and by 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Her life was a blessing.
Cremation has been accorded. Private services will be held at a later date. Memorials have been established to the family of Doris Battern, with checks made to Alisa Larson, and they may be mailed to Lange Funeral Home and Crematory, C/O Battern family, 1900 South 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.langefh.com or on our funeral home Facebook page.
No services will be held at this time
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