On Sunday, May 24, 2026, our dear mother, Dorothy Ann Hufford, left those who love her on earth to join those who love her in heaven. She departed peacefully surrounded by her loving family, just one month shy of her 94 th birthday.

Dorothy was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Sunday, June 26, 1932 to Joseph Staskal and Evelyn (Kolek) Staskal. She grew up on farms in Lynn County, Iowa. She walked over a mile to school, having to cross a pasture in which a bull often chased her.

Dorothy became an x-ray technician and worked at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It was there she met Tom, after he fell through a ceiling and had to have x-rays taken. They married in 1953.

In 1961, they built their family home in Dayton, Iowa. Dorothy’s career began in nursing and banking, but her drive and determination led her to real estate, where she flourished. She earned her license and quickly rose to the top of her field, becoming a multiyear member of the Million Dollar Club.

Dorothy enjoyed traveling, politics, helping the less fortunate, Jumble and Sudoku, but most importantly, spending time with her family.

Dorothy passed on so many of her virtues to her children. Deborah acquired her love of books and writing, and passionate political views, as Dorothy was a caucus leader many years and wrote many poems and editorials; Tom took from Mom her brilliant mind and endless thirst for knowledge, as Dorothy went back to school as late as 70 years old and was on the Dean’s list; Sue was gifted with her grit, strength and perseverance, as Dorothy rode on RAGBRAI the first time when she was 52 and climbed Križevac (Cross Mountain) in Bosnia/Herzegovina twice, once at 80 and again at 82; Scheila was blessed with her breath-taking operatic soprano voice and her strong faith, as Dorothy sang in the choir at St. Mary of Nazareth in Des Moines for many years and became a Sisters of Mercy Associate. Pam was graced with her cunning wit and sense of humor, as Dorothy could bring down a room with a one-liner without even thinking and in her final days was certain her hair “looked like the wreck of the Hesperus”.

Dorothy was preceded in death by Tom, her husband of 55 years, and her youngest child, Pamela

She is survived by her children, Deborah Hufford (Evan Jones), Mequon, WI; Tom Hufford, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Sue Schoen (Jeff), Sloan, Iowa; Scheila Hufford, Urbandale, Iowa; her son-in-law, Kevin Fick, Jefferson City, MO; 13 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; her sisters, Leota Pospisil, Mount Vernon, Iowa, and Joelyn Ainley, Greensboro, Georgia; multiple “surrogate” sons, daughters and granddaughters and a multitude of friends.

Dorothy touched countless lives and leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, humor, and resilience. She made the world better simply by being in it. Her spirit lives on eternally, and we were profoundly blessed to have her in our lives.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Salix, Iowa on June 19, 2026 at 10:30AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held June 26, 2026 at Saint Mary’s of Nazareth in Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation at 9:30, Mass 10:30, lunch and interment to follow.