Funeral services for Doris Schealler, 98, of Graettinger, were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Church in Graettinger with Father Paul Kelly, celebrant and Deacon John Rudd officiating. Interment will be at St. Jacob’s Catholic Cemetery, Graettinger. She died on Sept. 24, 2025, at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville.
Visitation and rosary were Monday at the church in Graettinger.
Doris Schealler, the daughter of Henry and Dora (Luke) Wobbe, was born on her parents’ farm west of Graettinger on April 16, 1927, in Graettinger, Iowa.
Shortly after Doris was born, the family moved to a farm near Jack Creek. She attended country school at the Brown Bottom and Blue Bottom schools east of Graettinger. When she was 5 years old, Doris sang the Star-Spangled Banner for the Farmers Union Meeting in Estherville. While in the 8th grade, she qualified to attend the state spelling bee. She graduated from Graettinger High School in 1945. After graduation she attended St. Joseph Mercy College in Fort Dodge where she earned her RN degree in 1948.
Doris began working as a nurse for Holy Family hospital in 1949. She retired in 1995 at the age of 72 years old.
On November 29, 1952, Doris was united in marriage to Francis Schealler at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Graettinger. The couple raised their children in Graettinger.
She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, a charter member of the Catholic Daughter’s of America for 70 years, and the Rosary Society. She was also a Hillcrest Board Member for 6 years, and a member of the Women’s Club, Garden Club and Right to Life in both Iowa and Minnesota.
Doris was a wonderful mom, grandma, nurse and Pro-Life Advocate. She attended several March for Life rallies in Washington DC and visited with the Pope in Rome. Her claim to fame is that she was born on the same day as Pope Benedict XVI and received a special rosary from the Vatican.
Faith, family and friends were the most important to her, including her Holy Family Hospital family. She was fondly known as the “Parade Lady”, making annual floats for the Graettinger Labor Day and Homecoming parades and attended parades near and far. She particularly enjoyed the drum and bugle corps contests. Doris created beautiful floral arrangements for the church, her home, and fairs.
She also loved to send birthday cards and handwritten letters to each and every one of her family members. In her free time, Doris enjoyed ballroom dances, shopping, antiques, camping, travel, musical plays, hosting tea parties and was a great cook.
Doris is survived by her children, Ann (Luigi) Turletti, of Bryon Center, MI, Kathryn (Steve) Helmich of Graettinger, IA, Alan (Brenda) Schealler of Greenville, IA, and Paul (Kathy) Schealler of Madrid, IA, 16 grandchildren, and 27 great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death was the love of her life, Francis. They were married almost 65 years when he passed away in 2017. She was also preceded in death by her son, Jerome Schealler in March 2025, her parents, Henry and Dora (Luke) Wobbe, four sisters, Margaret Wobbe, Gertrude Wobbe, Beatrice Johnson, Wilma Bormann and an infant brother.
Online condolences may be left for Doris’ family at HenryOlsonFuneral.com
