Dora Lamers
Dora Lamers
Dora Lamers, 102, of Oskaloosa, died Monday, March 19, 2012, at Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa. She was born October 27, 1909, in Mahaska County, the daughter of Garret and Maggie Klein Van Ommen. She graduated 8th grade from the old East Center rural school in 1924, and lived with her parents in the Spring Creek township of Mahaska County. On December 31, 1930, Dora was united in marriage to Raymond C. Lamers at the home of her parents. Together they farmed, beginning by using horses, in Mahaska County on several farms throughout their working days; twenty years on a farm west of Oskaloosa. Raymond died on October 12, 1968. She was a charter member of the Know Your Neighbor club. Dora then worked at William Penn College in food services for several years, and as a housemother for the Pennwell Apartments. Lastly, she did house cleaning in private residences and offices. She was active in 4H work for 19 years while on the farm, and had been a judge for the Garden Committee. She was a member of Central Reformed Church for many years, and made her Profession of Faith in 1927, and had been a Sunday School teacher and Bible Study leader, and enjoyed the church library. She made great pies and homemade cookies, and enjoyed playing cards and bingo, and going on bus trips with friends.
Her family includes her three children, Betty (& Charles) Augustine of Oskaloosa, Darlene (& Harold) Slagter of Oskaloosa and Gerald (& Sue) Lamers of Earlham; nine grandchildren: Gene (Shari) Fynaardt, Jerome (Linda) Fynaardt, Scot (Diane) Fynaardt, Crystal Fynaardt, Teresa (Andre) Luyet, Sharon Cunningham, Lance (Shelly) Lamers, Kurt (Michelle) Lamers, and Ann (Shane) Pashek; 26 great grandchildren; five great great grandchildren, a sister, Lillian Van Arkel of Oskaloosa; and a sister in law, Ethel Van Ommen of rural Eddyville.
Besides her husband, Dora was preceded in death by her parents; a son in law: Edward Fynaardt; seven brothers: Ben, Dick, Walter, Garry, Tunis, Henry, and John Van Ommen; and six sisters: Maggie Van Roekel, Nellie Ver Beek, Irene Van Mersbergen, her twin sister, Elizabeth, Henrietta Swank, and Pearl Kitzman.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at 11 a.m. in the Central Reformed Church at Oskaloosa with the Reverend Don DeGlopper officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery at Oskaloosa. Visitation will begin at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Tuesday after 2 p.m., and the family will be at the funeral chapel Tuesday from 6 – 8 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to her church for Adult and Children’s Libraries or Crystal Heights Care Center Activity Fund.
