1934-2024
Dorothy Maxine Kuper was born on March 21, 1934, in her family’s home near Ackley to John and Marie (Kannegieter) Kuper. Dorothy attended country school through the eighth grade. She then went to high school in town, graduating from Ackley High School in 1952.
During the summers after high school, she worked in the Marshalltown Hospital as a nurse’s aide. Following high school, Dorothy enrolled in Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls and graduated with a teaching degree in 1954. She taught her first year in a country school while living at home with her parents. She then moved to Sheffield where she taught third grade for two years.
During college, Dorothy was encouraged by a girlfriend to write letters to a young man, Clifford Leib, from Guthrie Center, who was encouraged by an Army buddy to write to her. They corresponded and met in person in Des Moines when Clifford was on leave before going to Germany to finish his stint in the Army. After Clifford came home in 1955, they continued to date, and on Feb. 10, 1957, Clifford proposed to Dorothy and she accepted. They went to a movie that night, and she spent a great deal of time admiring her engagement ring instead of watching the movie.
On the very warm evening of Sunday, Aug. 11, 1957, Miss Dorothy Kuper became the bride of Mr. Clifford Leib in Ackley at St. John’s United Church of Christ.
After the wedding, they made their home on a farm north of Guthrie Center. Dorothy taught third grade in the Guthrie Center Community School District for one year after which she focused her attention on their growing family. In June 1958, they welcomed their first daughter, Mary Ellen, and in June 1959, Ann Marie joined their family. Beth June followed in June 1962. In December of 1962, they moved up the road to the house that became their home for the next 46 years. In February 1967, Sara Jo arrived and completed their family. Clifford and Dorothy bought their current home on Oak Street in August 2007 on the very day their 50th Anniversary was celebrated. They moved to town in January 2008.
Dorothy was a stay-at-home mother for many years gardening, canning, sewing the girls many outfits and doing some substitute teaching along the way. She raised and sold broilers and eggs for many years also. That money helped pay for piano lessons for the girls. In the 1960s, she taught a preschool class during the summer for children with learning challenges. During the 1972-73 school year, she had a long-term substituting job. The following year, she began teaching at Tiger Tykes Preschool, which she did for 24 years followed by two years at Jack and Jill Preschool in Panora. She also taught basic life skills at Country View Estates for several years. She helped cook the evening meal at Guthrie Grove several summers and at the Bar-L Ranch one summer through the years.
As a devoted member and elder of the First United Presbyterian Church in Guthrie Center, Dorothy helped provide the family a faith foundation that is important to this day. She was involved with other organizations including the Seeley Creek Club, the Association for Retarded Children/Citizens, United Presbyterian Women (UPW), GCHS Band Parents, Valley Dreamers 4-H Club, Association of Churches, Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), Guthrie County Hospital Auxiliary and the local food pantry to name a few. She was honored to receive an Honorary 4-H Membership award at the 1989 Iowa 4-H State Conference in Ames. And in 1997, she was honored to receive a Hardee’s Hometown Hero award at the Iowa State Capitol after being selected by WHO Radio. Both Clifford and Dorothy were awarded a “Faithful Through the Years” award by the Presbytery of Des Moines in 2016. In 2018, Dorothy received the PW Purpose Award from the Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of Des Moines.
In retirement, Dorothy and Clifford found joy in traveling to see family and friends across the United States. Being present for special events of grandchildren and supporting family and community continued to be important to Dorothy until recent health issues hindered her involvement.
A treasured family custom that began with the Kannegieter family, passed down to the Kuper family and Dorothy passed along to her own family is enjoying a cone or bowl of ice cream. Even when life gets challenging, it is always better with ice cream.
After a life very well lived and health challenges faced over the last six years, Dorothy passed away peacefully into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Sept. 16, 2024, at The New Homestead in Guthrie Center. She has been restored in the presence of her Lord and Savior.
Dorothy is survived by her husband, Clifford; four daughters, Mary (Steve) Fogleman, Douglas, Arizona, Ann (Lewis) Polito, Hartford; Beth Leib (Lori Requist), Urbandale, and Sara (David) Hughes, New Virginia; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Isaac) Chavez, Stockton, California, Trevor Polito, Hartford, Brandon Polito, West Des Moines, Rebekah Fogleman, El Paso, Texas, Joshua Hughes (Jack Ave), Des Moines, and Jacob Hughes, New Virginia; and four great-grandchildren, Neva Rose, Kaylee Elise, Olivia Joy and Nathaniel John Chavez, Stockton, California, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by parents, John and Marie Kuper; siblings, Mildred (Lawrence) DeWalt, Kenneth (Annie) Kuper and Ruth (Bud) Murphy; niece, Debra (DeWalt) Peyton; nephews-in-law, Alois Vitasek and Craig Jensen; in-laws, Ottis and Ruth (Moreland) Leib, Roger and Rosemary Leib, Beverly and Max Uhlman, Joy and William Scarbrough; and nephew-in-law, Alvin Sheeder.
Family members will be present for a visitation to be held on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 701 State St., Guthrie Center. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. also at the church with a luncheon following.
Memorials will be distributed at the discretion of the family.