Dorene Hanlon, 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, after a brief battle with lymphoma.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 4-7 p.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Adel, with Rosary beginning at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee. Burial will be at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry following the funeral service and luncheon.
Dorene was born June 20, 1940, to Frank and Marie (Kastner) Hirschberg. The eldest of four daughters, she grew up on their farm near Bayard, Iowa.
She knew the meaning of hardwork as the daughter of farmers and always kept herself busy with various chores, tasks and schoolwork.
Dorene attended Drake University following high school.
The first time she met her future husband, Dr. Donald Hanlon, was rather eventful as a minor accident required a visit to the new, young doctor in Bayard. After a brief courtship, Donald and Dorene were married and relocated to Adel, where they lovingly raised their six daughters, and she excelled as a homemaker.
Dorene’s greatest joy and priority was her family. She was exceedingly proud of her daughters, sons-in-laws and grandchildren, rarely missing a chance to celebrate them by attending school activities, sporting events, recitals and family gatherings.
She will forever be remembered for her smile, kindness, gardens, “grandma recipes” and loving nature.
Left to cherish Dorene’s memory are her husband, Donald Hanlon; six daughters, Renee (Bill) Spratt of Elkhart, Michele Hanlon of Des Moines, Lisa (Mark) Mickelson of Waukee, Christine (Dean) Tranel of Madrid, Bridget (George) Jaegers of Grimes and Andrea (Matt) Patitz of Fayetteville, Ark.; nine grandchildren, Kylie, Emily, and Hailey Mickelson, Elizabeth Tranel, Collin Spratt, Josie and Vivi Patitz and Kelsey and Ian Jaegers; two sisters, Carolyn Chambers of Ankeny and Karen Howe of Fort Edward, N.Y.; and countless loving aunts; nieces; nephews; cousins;and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Diane Hirschberg.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Miracle Travel Works Inc. or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Iowa Chapter.
