Doris Linder

Doris Emma Reed Richardson Linder of Osceola, Iowa, age 95 died January 8, 2022, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa. Doris and twin Deloris were born in New Virginia, Iowa, Warren County, on February 16, 1926, to Denzel and Esther Crandall, Reed. The family lived on farms in Warren County until 1941, when they moved to a farm near Osceola. Doris graduated from Osceola High in 1943. She then went to Des Moines, Iowa where she worked at Equitable Insurance until 1945, when she went to Seattle, Washington to marry Everett Richardson while he was serving in the Army. She was employed at the Army Engineer’s office in Seattle till they returned to Iowa in 1946. Four children were born to this union, Kent, Kathy, Connie, and Carla. When her children got older, in 1969 she went to Des Moines to work at American Republic Insurance. She returned to Osceola in 1971 to accept the position of secretary to Mrs. Frances Carson at North Elementary for 12 years. During this time, she coached the girls little league softball team. In 1970 Doris was baptized at the Lutheran Church in Osceola where she was a Sunday school teacher. Doris later transferred to the First Christian Church where she served as elder, the secretary of CWF Faith Unit, Service Head, Bible teacher and aide.

Doris’s hobbies were writing poems, stories, and drawing. During summer breaks from school, Doris drove kidney dialysis patients to Des Moines for their treatments. She also worked at the Osceola Telephone Company and helped care for patients in their homes. She waitressed at Hardin’s Café and the Whiteway Café. She served as secretary, vice president, president, and scholarship chairman at Osceola Women’s club.

After her husband died in 1990, she took her mother into her home and cared for her for two years till her mother’s death. She then went back to school as an aide. Doris was there until she married Bernard Linder in 1993, adding Lowell, Pam, and Cindy and their families to her extended family. Bernard and Doris enjoyed many bus tours and trips to visit their families. Doris still volunteered at school to help in in classrooms during the years and in the summer reading program until 2007.

Recently, Bernard and Doris lived at Homestead Assisted Living in Osceola, they enjoyed the many activities provided. Following the death of Bernard, Doris wanted to return to an apartment of her own. She enjoyed friends and family coming over, the Bible study and teatime they shared. She really enjoyed the holidays, Christmas, 4th of July, Halloween, Easter, and Valentine’s Day. Her greatest joy was having family and friends together to share their love.

Preceding her in death were her parents, 1st. husband, Everett Richardson, 2nd husband Bernard Linder, son, Kent Richardson, brothers, Verle “Bud”, Larry, Don and Dale, twin sister, Deloris Robins, stepdaughter Cindy (Randol) Goodrich, and stepson, Lowell Linder.

Survivors include her children, Kathy (Steve) Ratcliff of Red Oak, IA, Connie Richardson of Des Moines, IA, Carla (Ray) Baker of Osceola, IA; stepchildren, Pam (Butch) Black of Osceola, IA, daughter-in-law, Jan Richardson of Eldorado Springs, MO, step-daughter-in-law, Janine Linder of Louisville, KY, 15 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends who considered her their second mom.

Services will be held at Kale Funeral Home, Wednesday January 12, 2022 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Marty Burgus officiating.

Family will greet friends from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at Kale Funeral Home.

A live stream of the service will be available at www.kalefuneralhome.com on Doris’s tribute wall beginning at 2 p.m., Wednesday.

Interment will be in the New Virginia Cemetery at a later date

Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Christian Church in Osceola

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com