Dolores Dee Mawdsley

Dolores Dee Mawdsley, 88, of Newton, formerly of Algona, died on Saturday, April 14, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center after a brief illness.  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.  An additional funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 19, at the Oak Crest Funeral Home in Algona where the family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.  Burial will be held at Riverview Cemetery in Algona.  Memorials to St. Luke United Methodist Church or the Woodrow Wilson Elementary Library may be left at either service.

Dolores was born to Roscoe and Delia Mae (Robison) Mawdsley at their farm home near Burt, Iowa on April 25, 1929.  She attended country school in Plum Creek Township and graduated from Algona High School in 1946.  Dolores continued her education at the University of Northern Iowa, graduating with an Elementary Education Degree in 1950.

After college, Dolores taught in Wall Lake and Williamsburg.  From there she moved to Newton, which has been her residence since that time.  In 2013, she moved into the Park Centre Retirement Community.  Her teaching career in Newton began with a 3rd grade position at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School.  After being asked to consider a librarian position at the school, Dolores obtained her Library Science Certification at Southeast Missouri State and became the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School Librarian for many years, retiring in 1990.  Dolores was a dedicated teacher who worked most of the summer getting the library ready for the next school year.  Displayed on the shelves in the school library were model cars, airplanes, and intricate 3-D puzzles which she expertly put together in her spare time. She had a tender heart towards her students, especially those who needed a little more attention and love.

Although Dolores never married, she was devoted to her family.  The whole family eagerly anticipated her visits because Dolores would bring the latest new gadget, puzzle, or game.  She loved woodworking, fixing puzzles, feeding and watching birds, growing plants and flowers, and watching college basketball and football, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes. Dolores was a behind the scene helper, a kind, humble, and generous lady with a witty sense of humor.

Left to cherish Dolores’ memory are her brother, Roscoe Jr. (Evelyn Becker) Mawdsley of Burt; five nephews and one niece, Mark (Colleen) Mawdsley of Madrid, Michael (Cynthia) Mawdsley of Algona, Merrill Mawdsley of Burt, Verdean Mawdsley of Burt, Meladee (Tim) Angus of Ames, and David (Becky) Mawdsley of Burt; 11 grandnieces and grandnephews; 20 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; and her faithful friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother, June (Corey) Mawdsley; her brother, Duane Mawdsley; and her sister-in-law, Marjorie (Hauck) Mawdsley.

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