Dorothy I. Brelsford

Hastings Funeral Home in Perry is in charge of arrangements for Dorothy Brelsford, 88, of Perry. Dorothy Irene Brelsford, daughter of Sylvanus Carll Donelson and Mabel Elizabeth Anderson Donelson, was born March 6, 1922 on a farm south of Ogden in Boone County, Iowa and departed life February 11, 2011 at the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 11 months and 5 days. Services were held at10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2011, First Christian Church, Perry, Iowa. The Pastor of the church, Tim Johnson conducted the services. Her honorary casket bearers were Craig Brelsford, Steven VanPelt, Dennis Brelsford, Jim Brelsford, Dave Griffin and John Van Pelt. Her casket bearers were Joshua Brelsford, Jennifer Martin, Joelle Hartwig, Jamie Hartwig, Mike Brelsford and Patrick Kelley. Jan Pattee provide the music How Great Thou Art, On Eagles Wings and Amazing Grace. The burial was at Violet Hill Cemetery, Perry, Iowa. A time of lunch and fellowship was provided by the church ladies following the service at the cemetery. In 1926, her family moved from the Harrison Farm near Perry, Iowa to the James Donelson Homestead farm in Boone County, five and a half miles south of Ogden, Iowa. Dorothy received her early education at Pleasant Plain Country School. In 1940, she received her diploma from Ogden High School. On August 23, 1940, she was united in marriage with Harold Brelsford. To this union, two children were born: Judith Ann and Jerry Lee. The couple lived on acreage west of Perry. Dorothy was a homemaker and worked for Perry Milk Products Company for 23 years. Dorothy enjoyed painting pictures, quilting, gardening, bowling, dancing and fishing. She especially enjoyed dancing at Lake Robbins and taking fishing trips to Canada. She and Harold also enjoyed wintering in Florida. Dorothy was a member of the First Christian Church in Perry and was involved in many activities pertaining to her church. She was a member of various bowling leagues, Sunday School groups, coffee groups, and the WIBC. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harold on May 5, 1993; her sister Marjorie Bernice VanPelt, four brothers: Carll Junior Donelson, Howard Louis Donelson, Russell Robert Donelson and Richard Lee Donelson. She is survived by her son Jerry Lee Brelsford and his wife Aileen of Overland Park, Kansas and her daughter Judith Ann Hartwig and her husband Frank of Merced, California; four grandchildren: Joshua Brelsford and Taryn Samuels, Jennifer Martin and her husband Brian, Joelle Hartwig and Tim Pagnozzi and Jamie Hartwig; and one great-grandson Zachary James Hartwig; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Memorials may be sent to Hastings Funeral Home, 1417 2nd St, Perry, Iowa 50220 hastingsfh@qwestoffice.net 515 465-4691 www.hastingsfh.net. .