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- Orville J. Dochterman, 93, of Burlington, died at 4:25 AM Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington.
It is with deep sadness to announce the passing on of a dear gentle man, father, son husband, and friend.
Orville J. Dochterman (Doc) was born on May 7, 1920 to Chester Orville and Daisy Sylvia Kay Dochterman in Fort Madison, Iowa and later became the big brother to Marjorie Marie Elifriz. The family moved to Burlington, Iowa in the mid 1920s. When he was nine years old he began spending summers on his grandparents, Frank and Mary Belle Anthony Dochterman farm near Ashton, Missouri. Using mules to till the land, it was there he learned the hard work of a farmer and the determination needed to help survive the "Great Depression." During his stay on the farm he learned to be a master gardener, skills which in later life were used to feed his large family.
He started his school years at the old Salter School and was in the first graduating class of the Horace Mann Junior High School, where he put his name along with some of his buddies in the crawl space near the furnace in the basement. By 1936, the "Great Depression" had affected his home life as it did all over this nation. While attending high school, he was forced to work full time at the glove factory to help support his family. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1938, lettering in football and track.
On January 21, 1940, he married his high school sweetheart, Catherine "Katie" Louise Daly, daughter of Michael and Rose Daly, in Kirksville, Missouri.
Prior to the start of World War II, he was employed at the CB&Q Railroad at the West Burlington Shops. In 1944 as a father of two, "Doc" was drafted into the Navy Serving as a Moto Machinist Mate in the Pacific Theater onboard the USS Santa Fe. He was awarded the World War II, American Campaign, and Asiatic Pacific and Japan Occupation medals. His ship was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for the assistance for the sinking of the USS Franklin while under kamikaze attach during combat operations off the coast of Japan.
At the end of World War II he was discharged, returned to Burlington, Iowa to his family and his job at the CB&Q Railroad as a machinist for the next 40 years, retiring in 1980. He enjoyed his weekly bowling league and in 1959/60 won the city league championship. He was a life long member of the IAM/Aerospace union serving as treasure of his local for many years.
Catherine "Katie" Daly Dochterman passed away May 22, 1976. On October 2, 1976, Orville married Phila Davis Dawson and they spent 27 years together volunteering for the state of Iowa VIP program. They volunteered 3350 hours until Phila passed away in September 25, 2003.
He was preceded in death by his wives, Catherine and Phila, his parents, his sister, son-in-law, Larry Jones, step son-in-law Don Schulz; brothers-in-law, William Daly, Floyd Griffith, Robert Barton, and William Cahill; and sisters-in-law Elizabeth Griffith, Joyce Daly and Eva Daly.
Orville lived his life as a believer in Jesus Christ as his savior. We will always remember and be grateful that we were part of his life. As he would say, "there is nothing more important than believing that Jesus Christ is your Savior." He would repeat again and again, "there is nothing that matters more than your Salvation."
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1920 - 2013 (93 years)
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