Dorman Lee Johannes
Dorman Lee Johannes
Dorman Lee Johannes
April 8, 1935 – December 27, 2022
Cedar, Iowa | Age 87
Dorman Lee Johannes, 87, of Cedar, Iowa, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Dorman Lee Johannes was born April 8, 1935, in Keokuk County to Leo and Luella Farr Johannes. He was the youngest of 11 children.
Dorman attended Elm Grove, Lacey Consolidated, Barnes City Consolidated, Thornburg and Gibson Consolidated School through the 8th grade. In lieu of high school, he stayed home to work on the family farm.
At 17, Dorman was united in marriage to Mary Alice McCurdy. To this union, 4 children were born: DeOwen Lynn, Brenda Lou, Douglas Lee and Travis Eugene.
During their first 5 years of marriage, they farmed 100 acres west of Lacey then spent the next 4 years farming an additional 200 acres. As time got hard, they were eventually forced to sell the farm. Dorman went to work for Hall Hatchery as a farm hand for a year. He spent the next 6 years working at the Taintor Co-op in New Sharon, Iowa. After 13 years of marriage, Dorman and Mary divorced and he started working at the Keswick Locker. After a short time there, he returned to Mahaska Feed where he spent the next 30 years driving a truck and eventually advancing to become the Mill Operator.
On November 26, 1966, Dorman was united in marriage to Ruth Ann Chedester and was honored to welcome her children: Kevin and Kellie Temple into his family. To this union, 2 sons were born, Kent Allen and Scott Dorman.
Together they raised 8 children in Oskaloosa for a couple years. During this time, they enjoyed raising and showing quarter horses with their kids. Deciding they needed more room for their bountiful family, they found room to roam on an acreage south of Cedar, Iowa. This new space brought the opportunity of raising dairy cows and chickens. Their passion for dairy cows spilled over into showing dairy cattle at the Iowa State Fair where they were honored to be featured on Blue Ribbon Road for two consecutive years. This began a lifelong passion for camping at the ISF with many generations following.
After all the kids were out of the house, Dorman enjoyed driving a school bus for the Eddyville-Blakesburg school district. In later years, his passion became caring for his garden, pets and flower beds.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann; 4 sons: DeOwen (& Diane) Johannes of Des Moines, Kent (& Lavonne) Johannes, of Oskaloosa, Scott (& Elizabeth) Johannes of Cedar, Kevin (& Tammie) Temple of Arizona; 2 daughters, Brenda (& Gary) Lanphier of Oskaloosa and Kellie (& Bruce) Vroegh, of Eddyville, Iowa; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Dorman was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Douglas Johannes; a son in infancy, Travis Johannes; 4 brothers: Art, Homer, Cleo and Ralph; 6 sisters: Glema Damerval, Verna Pence, Donna Newell, Bernice Zimmerman, Letha Moore, and Marvel Jackson; and a grandson, Dustin Johannes.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. in the Bethel Baptist Church in Oskaloosa with pastor Ronnie Hemsworth officiating.
Burial will follow services at Bloomfield Cemetery in Mahaska County (East of Musco Mobile in the same lot with the cell tower). The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 4, from 5-8 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel with the family present to greet relatives and guests.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to the family.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dorman Lee Johannes please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.
