Delores K. Worden, 90

Delores K. Worden, 90, of Iowa Falls, passed away Saturday, July 17, 2021 at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. Memorial services were held 2:00 PM Friday, July 23, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls. She will be laid to rest at the Morgan Township Cemetery at a later date. Woodley Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Iowa Falls is caring for Delores and her family.

Delores Kathryn Peters Worden, of Iowa Falls, formerly of rural Dows, was born March 13, 1931 the youngest of four children born to John and Esther (Mutschler) Peters on a farm near Ackley, Iowa.

She graduated from Hampton High School in 1948. Delores started working for Farmer’s Hybrid in the office during high school, going to work at 2 PM after classes. She continued working there after High School graduation, and after she was married for a while longer.

Delores met Leonard Worden at a rural youth event in 1950. Delores and Leonard Worden were united in marriage on March 20, 1951 at the First Methodist Church in Hampton, Iowa, after a snowstorm postponed their wedding for two days. They were married for 62 years before Leonard passed away in 2014. They were blessed with four children: Debra, Dennis, Beverly and Brian.

In January 1952 Delores followed Leonard to Camp Pendleton when he served in the United States Marine Corps. While there she worked at the PX (Post Exchange), first in food selling sandwiches and ice cream, then in general merchandise. She returned home to Iowa when Leonard was sent to Japan, where she lived with her sister.

After Leonard was discharged in January 1954, they returned to farming on the family farm east of Dows. She was a dedicated farm wife, cooking large meals for her family and whoever else was there for the noon meal. She was an avid baker, making it an all-day affair with several batches of cookies baked in one day, along with cakes and pies. She raised a large garden to feed her family, and canned lots of produce, froze sweetcorn, and butchered chickens. She raised chickens for eggs, selling what her family could not use. She was a seamstress as well, making clothing for herself and her daughters especially.

Delores worked at Farm and Home Publishers in Belmond for almost 20 years, retiring in December 2007.

Until very recently she remembered every family member’s birthday or anniversary and sent cards.

Delores was active in Morgan United Methodist Church, in Women’s Society of Christian Service, then United Methodist Women. She enjoyed making and contributing school and health kits for the yearly Mission Ingathering. She was also a member of various neighborhood clubs over the years.

Delores deeded her body to the University of Iowa for medical education and research. Interment will be in the Morgan Township Cemetery at a future date.

Delores is survived by her children, Debra (Harlan) Gillespie of Des Moines; Dennis (Joan) Worden of Oelwein; Beverly (Tim) Smith of Iowa Falls and Brian (Joni) Worden of Belmond; fourteen grandchildren: Nathan (Kristin) Gillespie and children Aiden and Neala; Aaron Gillespie; Adam (Vanessa) Gillespie and children Hazel and AJ; Noah Worden; Jonna (Lance) Schutte and children Blake, Briella, Breklyn, and Brayton; Jacob Worden; Logan Worden; Benjamin (Traci) Smith and Avianna; Jocelyn (Adam) Grayson and Lainey; Linzey (Worden) Nosbush and children Cooper and Chantel; Lane (Katie) Worden and Ella and baby boy; Landon Worden (Jonica Hernandez) and Addy; Luke Worden (Spenser Becker), and Rory Dillon; brother and sister-in-law, Chester and Patty Worden; sister-in-law, Karmen Worden and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers and their wives ,Robert (Gladys) Peters, Donald (Caroline) Peters; sister and her husband, Lavon (Gene) Henn; in-laws, Gordon and Betty Worden, Marlys and James Pauley and Gaylord Worden.