DELORES M. VAN DIKE

Delores M. Van Dike went home to be with her Lord on September 24 ^th , 2019.  She was born May 26, 1923 and was ready to leave this earth.  Her 96 plus years were well lived and her faith was strong!  Delores lived at Mill Pond Assisted Living in Ankeny, Iowa at the time of her death, but spent most of her adult life in Norwalk, Iowa.  She and her family moved to Norwalk in 1957 and lived there 57 years!

Delores was born and raised on the family farm near St. Charles, Iowa.  After high school she attended Simpson College and Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) and then taught country school in Madison County and in public schools in St. Charles and Altoona.  She met Bob Van Dike after he came back from WWII and they were married in 1948.  They started a family in 1950 and went about the business of working hard and raising the kids.  They were the epitome of "The Greatest Generation."

Some of Delores' passions were her family, her church, teaching bible studies, gardening and flowers, and spending time at the St. Charles farm.  She worked at the Norwalk Post Office for 25 years.  She was a 50 year plus member of the Norwalk Christian Church where she taught Sunday School and a member of the Norwalk Women's Club.

She is survived by her children, Charles (Kathy) of Norwalk, Elaine (Jim) Schipper of Ankeny, and Duane (Marcia) of Norwalk; grandchildren, Erika (Wes) Dethrow, Adam (Lindy) Van Dike, Angi (Jared) Bright, Timm (Som) Schipper, Melissa (John) Wingfield and Julie (Jeremy) Kernes; 12 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Wilma Waldorf; and one niece and three nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Bob; grandson, Ryan Schipper; parents, Glen and Carrie Lathrum; twin brother, Duane Rex; and brother, Robert.

Services will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the Norwalk Christian Church with burial following services in the Webb Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to services on Saturday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Memorials may be given to the Norwalk Christian Church.