Dorothy Inez Zaiger

Dorothy Inez Zaiger, the daughter of Adolph and Nancy Rank Gaer, was born April 19, 1926, at her parents’ home in Shelby County near Irwin, Iowa and died July 24, 2012, at her home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 3 months, and 5 days. Dorothy was baptized at the Harlan Church of Christ in Harlan, Iowa. She attended rural schools and then graduated from the Harlan High School. On July 1, 1945, she was united in marriage to Clarence Earl Zaiger at the Church of Christ parsonage in Harlan, Iowa. Four children were born to this union. Dorothy helped Earl operate their farm and then later worked at the First Baptist Nursing Home for the elderly for many years. She sold Minnesota Woolens and also Sarah Coventry jewelry. Dorothy operated her own cleaning business and cleaned many businesses and private homes. These included Sklenar Publishing, the Audubon Public Library, and the Presbyterian Church in Audubon. She also cleaned and babysat for Neva Burger. Dorothy operated a newspaper delivery business for the Des Moines Register and later also delivered the Sunday Omaha World Herald for over 49 years until she retired when she was in her early 80’s. Dorothy had attended the Redline Church of Christ and later the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, and was a member of several neighborhood clubs. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Clarence Earl Zaiger; her daughter Lois Johnson; her granddaughter Sandra Johnson; her parents; brothers and sisters Lester Gaer, Howard and wife Elaine Gaer; and Leona and husband Gordon Petersen; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law LaVerne Zaiger, Peter Kunatz, Albert Zaiger, and Mildred Zaiger. Survivors include her daughters Beverly and husband Bert Madden, Jr. of Carroll, Iowa, Bonnie and Tom Madden, Sr. of Exira, Iowa and Eunice Martens of Audubon, Iowa; her son-in-law Troy Johnson of Montrose, Colorado; her grandchildren: LaDonna and husband Randy Lebeck of Grand Junction, Iowa, Bert Madden, III and wife Pat, Michael Madden and Chad and wife Shelly Madden all of Carroll, Reese Johnson, Dawn and husband Don Proper, Travis Johnson, Peggy Johnson, Luke Johnson all of Montrose, Thomas Madden, Jr. of Exira, Heather and husband Richard Petersen of Des Moines, Iowa, Joseph Zaiger and James Martens both of Audubon; numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; her sisters-in-law: Edith Kunatz of Flowery Branch, Georgia, Bernadine Gaer of Harlan, Iowa many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dwaine Simonsen on Thursday, July 26, 2012, at 2:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.