Doris Carl

Funeral Service: Will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. at the Trinity Christian Church in Bridgewater with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery. Pastor David Clark will officiate the service. 

Visitation: Will be held at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle on Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorials: To Doris Carl memorial fund to be established by the family.

Doris Esther Carl was born on December 5, 1927, to Elmer and Myrtle (Schrader) Carl in rural Adair County, Iowa. She passed away Wednesday, January 9, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Center in Fontanelle, Iowa, at the age of 85.

Doris grew up on a farm south of Bridgewater with her parents and sisters. She attended school at a rural one-room schoolhouse in Washington Township. After finishing school, Doris worked at Pote’s Pharmacy in Bridgewater. In 1958 Doris bought the store and it became Doris’ Department Store. She owned and operated the business for 52 years until it was sold in 2010.

Doris was an active member of her church and community. Over the years, she served on the Bridgewater Betterment Club, the Bridgewater Commercial Club, the Bridgewater City Council, the Peaceful Manor Housing Board, and was a board member of the Trinity Christian Church. Doris served on Round-up Day committees and the Centennial Celebration committee (1985) and was involved in the stewardship of the Bridgewater Café. Doris lived her life guided by a very strong faith, had a servant heart and enjoyed helping others. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, cooking and baking (especially pies), hosting Sunday family dinners, and caring for her parents after they moved to town from the farm in 1974.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Beulah Carl (who died as a young child) and Opal Long; brothers-in-law Vergil Pool, Al Long, and Lawrence Palma.

She is survived by sisters Marie Pool of Creston and Helen Palma of Greenfield; nieces and nephews Betty Sherer of Grundy Center, Donnie Pool (Adela) of Creston, Peggy Muck of Runnells, Patty Long of Lorimor, Steve Long of Prescott, Bob Palma of Austin, Texas, Sharon Koehler of Winterset, Diane Faris (Dave) of Des Moines, and Julie Chappell (Matt) of Van Meter; and many extended family and friends.