- Born on: September 16, 1929
- Departed on: April 13, 2017
- Resided in: Ames, IA
Catharina Gesina Dodson
Did the world get a little bit darker this morning in Ames? It did for our family. The light of our life, Catharina Dodson left her earthly body at 1:15 this morning at Israel Hospice House. Our family is celebrating her homecoming, and Heaven is the better today.
What to say about Cathi? A few columns are inadequate to convey the height, breath and depth of her life and love. Cathi was born in Rotterdam, Holland, to Willem Arnold and Hermina Johnna (Albers) Mulder. During the German occupation of Holland, she, like many other city children, was relocated to country farms in order to survive. Life lessons learned early gave her a resilience of character that was reflected throughout her entire life.
While backpacking through Europe on holiday, serendipity led to her meeting an American Army soldier who was stationed in France. Coca-Cola and addresses were exchanged. This lead to romance, then marriage in Rotterdam followed by 62 1/2 beautiful years together. Their first child, Debby, was born in Fontainbleau, France. Cathi’s husband, Bob, was a CW4 career army officer and his many duty stations took us all over the world. While Bob spent two years in Korea and two years in Vietnam, my mom would be busy running American Red Cross swimming programs, CPR and first aid classes. If she saw a need, she filled it. I learned the meaning of altruism watching her.
While stationed in Germany, my parents adopted my brother, Scott Eugene Dodson, and our family was complete. Sadly he preceded us in death in 2004.
Every duty station meant new friends at the Officers Wives Club Eastern Star and Church. Her church family at Woodmen Valley in Colorado Springs, Colo., were her besties. Few looked forward to Sunday School and 55+ more than my mom. For 20 plus years, she was known as the “Coffee Lady,” filling urns upon urns of coffee at each service. Awanas was another of her favorite activities.
She loved crafting, and her grandchildren were the recipients of her many projects. One friend said she had an entire bookcase filled with many homemade “Tchotchkies by Cathi.” A bargain hunter to the nth degree, she loved procuring treasures for family and friends worldwide. The USPS remains solvent due to her largess.
Her four grandchildren were thrilled to open “Oma’s” frequent treasure boxes. Those grandchildren include, Renald William Bouchard the III, wife Darcie, their children, Renald William IV, Etienn Ray, and Blaise Richard Bouchard, of Zearing; Robert Wayne Bouchard and wife Rebecca, their children, Zayne Robert, Noah Alexander and Kaden Joshua, of Bay City, Mich.; Paul Michael Prescott, wife Hannah, their children, Lucy June, Arlo Stanley and Crosby Michael, of Waterloo; and Catharina Leigh Tibbles, husband Jeff, their girls, Elizabeth Anne and Olivia Lynn, of Ankeny.
She was preceded in death by parents, Willem and Hermina Mulder; sister, Elizabeth Holleman; son, Scott; and great-granddaughters, Michaela and Alayna Tibbles.
Left to honor her memory are her husband, Bob Dodson; daughter, Debby Prescott, of Ames; daughter-in-law, Tina (Dodson) Smith; grandson, Rodney Steven Dodson; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Per her wishes, she will be cremated and memorial services will be at a later date.
Our family extends our grateful thanks to the entire staff at Northridge Village and Israel Hospice House. The excellent care shown to Cathi, allowed her a quality of life that blessed her greatly.
What to say about Cathi? A few columns are inadequate to convey the height, breath and depth of her life and love. Cathi was born in Rotterdam, Holland, to Willem Arnold and Hermina Johnna (Albers) Mulder. During the German occupation of Holland, she, like many other city children, was relocated to country farms in order to survive. Life lessons learned early gave her a resilience of character that was reflected throughout her entire life.
While backpacking through Europe on holiday, serendipity led to her meeting an American Army soldier who was stationed in France. Coca-Cola and addresses were exchanged. This lead to romance, then marriage in Rotterdam followed by 62 1/2 beautiful years together. Their first child, Debby, was born in Fontainbleau, France. Cathi’s husband, Bob, was a CW4 career army officer and his many duty stations took us all over the world. While Bob spent two years in Korea and two years in Vietnam, my mom would be busy running American Red Cross swimming programs, CPR and first aid classes. If she saw a need, she filled it. I learned the meaning of altruism watching her.
While stationed in Germany, my parents adopted my brother, Scott Eugene Dodson, and our family was complete. Sadly he preceded us in death in 2004.
Every duty station meant new friends at the Officers Wives Club Eastern Star and Church. Her church family at Woodmen Valley in Colorado Springs, Colo., were her besties. Few looked forward to Sunday School and 55+ more than my mom. For 20 plus years, she was known as the “Coffee Lady,” filling urns upon urns of coffee at each service. Awanas was another of her favorite activities.
She loved crafting, and her grandchildren were the recipients of her many projects. One friend said she had an entire bookcase filled with many homemade “Tchotchkies by Cathi.” A bargain hunter to the nth degree, she loved procuring treasures for family and friends worldwide. The USPS remains solvent due to her largess.
Her four grandchildren were thrilled to open “Oma’s” frequent treasure boxes. Those grandchildren include, Renald William Bouchard the III, wife Darcie, their children, Renald William IV, Etienn Ray, and Blaise Richard Bouchard, of Zearing; Robert Wayne Bouchard and wife Rebecca, their children, Zayne Robert, Noah Alexander and Kaden Joshua, of Bay City, Mich.; Paul Michael Prescott, wife Hannah, their children, Lucy June, Arlo Stanley and Crosby Michael, of Waterloo; and Catharina Leigh Tibbles, husband Jeff, their girls, Elizabeth Anne and Olivia Lynn, of Ankeny.
She was preceded in death by parents, Willem and Hermina Mulder; sister, Elizabeth Holleman; son, Scott; and great-granddaughters, Michaela and Alayna Tibbles.
Left to honor her memory are her husband, Bob Dodson; daughter, Debby Prescott, of Ames; daughter-in-law, Tina (Dodson) Smith; grandson, Rodney Steven Dodson; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Per her wishes, she will be cremated and memorial services will be at a later date.
Our family extends our grateful thanks to the entire staff at Northridge Village and Israel Hospice House. The excellent care shown to Cathi, allowed her a quality of life that blessed her greatly.
