back to home page  

back to KHS Graduates

back to Klemme School

Dorothy Mae Howie

1923 - 2001

Dorothy M. Howie, 77, of Garner died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2001 at Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa, Mason City.

Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 29 at the United Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Roger Kallem officiated. Music was provided by organist Karen Pederson who accompanied congregational hymns. Special music was provided by a men's quintet of Jay Howie, Bruce Jolivette, Gary Moore, Don Kammrad and Paul Nelson. Ushers were Norman Henschen and Eldon Pearson.

Casket bearers were Robert Baack, Richard Baack, Jeff Baack, E.D. "Red" Buntenbach, Carroll Kropp and Bob Abele. Honorary bearers were Mrs. Howie's grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to the United Presbyterian Church in Dorothy's name.

Dorothy Mae Howie, daughter of Herman and Lillie (Blumer) Baack, ws born July 27, 1923 on a farm near Klemme. She attended the rural schools of Ell township and graduated from Klemme High School in 1941. While in high school she was selected as the North Iowa Band Queen. She graduated from Drake University where she received her B.A. in Education and taught in various schools in Mason City and Clear Lake.

She was married to James A. Rea at Detroit, Mich. in 1946. To this union a daughter, Barbara, was born. James Rea died on April 1, 1950. On Dec. 26, 1953 she was married to James A. Howie at Mason City. The couple moved to Garner in February of 1954 where they raised their family and owned and operated the John Deere dealership which Jim had purchased in 1951. She enjoyed gardening, homemaking, and her family, especially her grandchildren.

Mrs. Howie was a member of the United Presbyterian Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher, held several church offices and belonged to the Ladies Aide. She also belonged to the Garner Garden Club, Homemakers Club was a Cub Scout Den Leader and served two terms on the Garner-Hayfield school board.

She was involved in health care governing since 1979 when she was appointed to the North Iowa Medial Center Board and had served on the finance and marketing and legislative affairs committees. She also served as a member if the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital/North Iowa Medical Center Consolidation Task Force (1993) the Managed Care Task Force(1994) and served on the finance and marketing and legislative affairs committees. She continued serving on the combined board until 2000, only recently resigning.

She is survived by her husband, James A. Howie of Garner; four children Barbara Lembo and her husband, Keith, of Charlotte, N.C.; Jay Howie and daughter-in-law, Roberta, of Garner; Jeff Howie and his wife, Jolene, of Garner,; and Beth Delagardelle and her husband, David, of Waterloo; seven grandchildren, Billy, Jesse, Morgan, Amanda, and Alex Howie and Michael and Daniel Delagardelle. Also surviving are three brothers, Roy Baack and his wife, Bernice, of Thornton; Robert Baack and his wife, Ruth, of Britt, and Richard Baack and his wife, Jean, of Klemme; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband James A, Rea; a granddaughter Maggie Mae Howie; two sisters, Norma Mauritz and Ethel Kropp and a brother, Paul Baack.

************************************************************