August 6, 1927 - February 23, 2014
Doris Mae (Gonner) Dyas, 86 of rural Andrew, passed away very gracefully on Sunday evening at 7:30, February 23rd, 2014, at the Mill Valley Care Center. Doris was surrounded lovingly with her entire family at her side.
Visitation will be held from 4 - 7pm on Wednesday at the Hachmann Funeral Home in Bellevue and again Thursday morning from 9:30 - 10:30am at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Springbrook. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, February 27th at 10:30am in the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Springbrook Cemetery.
Doris Mae Gonner was born on August 6th, 1927 in the Bellevue Hospital to Joseph and Florence (Jaynes) Gonner of Springbrook. She had one sister LaVonne (Gonner) Welsch. Doris attended Bayless Business College in Dubuque, following her graduation from Marquette High School in Bellevue.
Doris married John Wilbur Dyas on January 31st, 1951 at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Springbrook. The newlyweds drove south on their honeymoon to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Doris and Jack made their home on a beautiful farm outside of Andrew and raised two children, Sandra and John. Doris and Jack celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year.
Doris enjoyed traveling, playing Euchre with their close friends and family, taking care of her grandchildren, her asparagus patch and her gardens. Doris took extra pride in her flower gardens. She loved taking photographs of her family, pets and her flowers. Documenting her life with a camera began during her teens. Doris was a very strong, independent woman who cherished her family. Her culinary skills were above and beyond what was typical. Exploring recipes such as croquettes and homemade donuts in the 1960’s, Doris was an exceptionally wonderful cook and baker who also enjoyed planning family gatherings on holidays. Every detail was in place, from Easter baskets to her creme de menthe cake. She sent her grandchildren boxes of decorated sugar cookies for Valentine’s Day every year. P.S. “Gams” your cinnamon rolls and sugar cookies were the best!
Doris was an active and devoted member of the Catholic Church. She will be remembered for her incredible flair for style in both her dress and decorating. KMAQ was always on her radio. Music was an important part of her life beginning with playing an accordion as a young girl and having a large collection of records including Johnny Cash, Kitty Wells, Glen Miller, Perry Como, Dean Martin and Willie Nelson. She enjoyed playing bingo, watching Wheel of Fortune and on Sunday night we watched 60 Minutes and had pizza on paper plates in the living room. Her grandchildren enjoyed her card playing superstitions. If her cards were not in her favor, Doris would circle the table or the chair or even switch seats. We will miss her special twinkle in her eyes and the way we could get her to laugh so hard, she would cry. She will be deeply missed.
Those left to honor her memory include her husband John W. Dyas, her two children Sandra Louise Dyas of Iowa City and John R. Dyas of rural Andrew; three grandchildren, Jenna (Tony) Nims of Maquoketa, Jamie Elizabeth Hudrlik of Iowa City, Tasha (Slade) Volk of Blackhawk, South Dakota and three great grandchildren; Caroline Louise, Ayden John and Owen Jacob. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, sister LaVonne, brother-in-law Greg Welsch and her infant daughter Mary Jo.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Mill Valley Care Center, Jackson County Hospice, Father Kruse and the Hachmann Funeral Home.
